USA Rice Federation Joins Celiac Sprue Association

Arlington, VA, September 4, 2006 — USA Rice Federation has become a member of the Celiac Sprue Association to help those with Celiac disease to better understand rice as a solution in a gluten-free diet. As anyone with Celiac disease knows, being on a gluten-free diet often means sacrificing certain nutrients that are found in foods containing gluten. Enriched white and whole grain brown rice provide the gluten-free diet with a versatile, healthy grain option.

Rice, the grain that nourishes two thirds of the world’s population, contributes over 15 essential nutrients to the diet, and is especially rich in B-vitamins, potassium, magnesium, selenium (brown), fiber (brown) and iron. Enriched white rice is also fortified with folic acid at the request of the Centers for Disease Control to help prevent birth defects. Brown rice is a 100% whole grain. Versatile rice combines well with other healthy foods.

“We are pleased to be a member of the Celiac Sprue Association and believe that this partnership will help to increase awareness of rice as a perfect food choice for adults and children with allergies to gluten,” says Anne Banville, vice president of domestic promotion, USA Rice Federation. “We are proud to be a member of the leading advocacy organization for those with Celiac disease and hope that the information we provide about the nutritious goodness of rice and meal-time solutions will serve as a valuable resource.”

“As an organization that is committed to being a source of information for individuals with Celiac disease, we are enthusiastic about the USA Rice Federation membership in the Celiac Sprue Association, says Mary Schluckebier, Executive Director.” In keeping with our motto of ‘Celiacs Helping Celiacs,’ we look forward to partnering with rice on efforts that will continue to increase awareness of celiac disease among consumers, the media and health professionals and to providing our members with nutritious, gluten-free rice recipes that they can enjoy.”

The USA Rice Federation membership in Celiac Sprue Association comes just in time for the industry’s annual National Rice Month celebration in September, when promotional activities shine the spotlight on rice in grocery stores across the nation, schools, and rice-growing communities. Fifteen hundred rice farmers in Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Missouri produce over 22 billion pounds of high-quality short, medium and long grain rice, as well as specialty rice including jasmine, basmati, arborio, red aromatic and black japonica, among others.

The USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting programs to build awareness of the many attributes of rice and increasing worldwide demand for U.S. rice.

The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) is a member-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis worldwide through education, information and research.

For more information, including nutritious, gluten-free recipes, visit www.usarice.com/consumer. For more information about Celiac disease, log on to the Celiac Sprue Association website at www.csaceliacs.org.

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