PhillySwirl is determined to make a difference in the Celiac Community.

 

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PhillySwirl Helping to Fund Celiac Research

Allergies Blog

April 30, 2004

PhillySwirl Helping to Fund Celiac Research
Before licking a popsicle or swallowing a spoonful of a sundae, children and adults with celiac disease must make sure that their treat is gluten-free.

Now, a Florida-based novelty ice cream company that makes gluten-free products, PhillySwirl, has teamed up with the internationally recognized University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore to raise money for research that may lead to a cure. The company will donate 50 cents for each UPC label from PhillySwirl collected by the center.

"The only way for people with celiac disease to prevent an adverse reaction and damage to their intestines is to avoid all foods that contain the protein gluten," says Alessio Fasano, M.D., director of the Center for Celiac Research and professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Max Lapin and Alex Plotkin, co-founders PhillySwirl, learned that many people want to know if a product contains gluten. "We received many calls from parents saying their child was on a 'gluten-free' diet due to celiac disease, and they asked whether our products contained anything made with, or from, wheat, rye or barley," says Mr. Plotkin.

Anxious to find the answer, the pair tested their products for gluten, as well as peanuts and tree nuts. All products were free of peanuts and tree nuts, while almost all were gluten-free. This testing sparked an interest for both Mr. Lapin and Mr. Plotkin. They started educating themselves about celiac disease and learned about the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. That led them to do something even sweeter.

"Max and Alex have made it their mission to fund our research, which is focused on finding a cure for celiac disease -- the most common genetic disorder in the world. That is an incredible commitment for a company that came to serve this community purely by accident," adds Dr. Fasano, who also heads the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children.

To help with the fund-raising effort, people can send PhillySwirl UPC labels to:

Center for Celiac Research
CFCR – PhillySwirl
22 S. Greene Street
Box 104
Baltimore, MD 21201

A University of Maryland Medicine News Release
04/22/04

The following article was highlighted in the Celiac Disease Foundation's

quarterly newsletter.

 

PhillySwirl “Giving $$ Back” To Benefit CD Research 

Stunned to learn celiac disease, believed to be the world’s most common genetic disorder, did not have strong support for research, the owners of Tampa-based, PhillySwirl decided to fill the void.   

Co-founded in 1992, by Max Lapin and Alex Plotkin, the company did not set out to make a ‘gluten-free’ product.  Calls from concerned parents, caused them to verify ingredients.  “We kept receiving calls from parents saying their child was on a ‘gluten-free’ diet due to celiac disease, and did our product contain anything made with, or from wheat, rye or barley,” according to Plotkin.  The second most frequently asked question was,”Do your products contain peanuts or tree nuts?  We couldn’t believe how thankful parents were because their children were able to find and enjoy a store bought treat for the first time in their lives,” he explained further.   

In November 2003, product testing for the presence of allergens showed gluten, peanuts, and tree-nuts were below level of detection.  Shortly after the testing, the founders started educating themselves about celiac disease.  Research conducted through the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research has revealed that as many as one out of every 133 Americans are at risk for developing celiac disease.  “With over 150 companies manufacturing gluten-free foods, we thought one of them would be donating a percentage of proceeds towards finding a cure.  We were wrong,” said Lapin.  When the company was asked to sponsor the International Walk for Celiac Disease, they had a better idea. 

PhillySwirl will be “Making Tracks and Giving $$ Back.”  For each PhillySwirl UPC label received from the Center, 50 cents will be donated for research.  Support groups or individuals can collect, bundle, and mail labels to the Center.  Labels can also be mailed individually, whatever works best.  Costco carries PhillySwirl products.  Since the quantity purchased is larger, PhillySwirl will donate $1 for UPC codes on their products from Costco.   

Recognized as a leader in the field of celiac disease, the Center for Celiac Research houses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program covering clinical care, support services, education and scientific research relating to celiac disease.  The Center works very closely with support groups and other celiac research centers across the country.   

Center Director, Dr. Alessio Fasano, has high praise for PhillySwirl.  “In addition to producing great products which celiacs can eat safely, these guys have made it their mission to fund research leading to a cure of the most common genetic disorder in the world.  An incredible commitment for a company which came to serve this community purely by accident.” 

The money raised by PhillySwirl’s “Making Tracks and Giving $$ Back” campaign will help the Center continue it’s efforts to find the cause and cure for celiac disease.  They manufacture the following gluten-free, peanut and tree-nut free products: PhillySwirl Original Italian Ice Swirl, PhillySwirl Stix (Popsicles), and Phudge Sundae Stix (Ice Cream Bars).   

CDF thanks PhillySwirl for taking the first step in supporting awareness of CD.  We encourage other manufactures to do the same.
Copyright© 2002 PhillySwirl, inc