Adhering to a gluten-free lifestyle can be frustrating for those with celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities and allergies, but a local event is coming back to South Florida to help attendees deal with those challenges. The South Florida Gluten Free Expo will take place at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center (9067 Southern Blvd.) on Saturday, Feb. 24.
The expo is being re-launched after being held by the South Florida Celiac Support Group from 2008 through 2014. “This event is a day to educate and celebrate all things gluten-free, with the goal of making life easier for those who need to eat gluten-free,” event coordinator Matthew Bolich said.
The event will include local and national exhibitors, educational presentations, door prizes and gluten-free samples. The expo will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission and VIP advance tickets are on sale now, or they can be purchased at the door. Youth ages 12 and under are free to attend with an adult.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Alessio Fasano, a world-renowned pediatric gastroenterologist, research scientist and founder of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. His visionary research led to the awareness of celiac disease as a growing public health problem in the United States.
Many companies represented at the event have carved out a gluten-free niche by producing products that are difficult to replicate or find in a gluten-free form.
The South Florida Celiac Support Group and Connecting Gluten-Free are hosting the event. Further information can be found at www.southfloridagfexpo.com.
