Malta’s Gluten And Lactose-Free Week Is Here: Join The Health And Green Fair This Weekend
This week is the second annual edition of the Malta Gluten and Lactose-Free Week – coinciding with International Coeliac Day, which is celebrated today.
“Our Association is dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of identifying Coeliac disease in children,” said James Grima, a member of the Coeliac Association Malta.
Coeliac is the most common food-related chronic disease amongst European children, and affects 1% of children globally – but an estimated 80% of cases are undiagnosed.
When prioritised early enough, detection and treatment are fairly easy – but symptoms of the disease are so commonly ignored that many children can reach eight years of age before being diagnosed.
When this is the case, doctors may have missed the opportunity to secure a child’s lifelong health and ability to thrive to the fullest possible extent.
“We urge parents to be vigilant and test their children for Coeliac disease – because early detection is crucial for their lifelong health and growth – and parents should be even more vigilant if there is any family history.”
This emphasis is a result of estimates that first-degree relatives have a 10% chance of developing Coeliac disease themselves. Ensuring that children get tested and diagnosed is the best way of ensuring that they are not victims of malnutrition – which could lead to stunting healthy growth.
An estimated 20% of Malta’s population is affected by food intolerances – but eating in Malta can sometimes be a challenging task for those diagnosed with such conditions.
To ease these difficulties, and to wrap up this week of raising awareness, Veggy Malta is organising the Health and Green Fair on 21st May 2023 – a family-friendly event hosting a wholly gluten-free and lactose-free food court.
The event will bring together market stalls showcasing an array of sustainable products and services all day during the Kennedy Grove area in St Paul’s Bay – put together by the Eco Market Malta community – and a variety of kids’ activities, free yoga sessions, and talks will be organised for those who want to deepen their knowledge regarding food intolerances.
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