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    Back to Good Food

    Good Food

    Miraculous, Gluten-Free Communion Wafers

    We eat to live and live to eat.

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    By Evan Kleiman • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    We eat to live and live to eat.Food transcends mere nutrition when it takes on symbolism in the rituals of our cultures.But what happens when, due to illness or dietary restriction, one can’t consume the very food that is woven into the fabric of one’s faith?

    Taking Communion caused such a problem for those who couldn’t eat the gluten commonly used in communion wafers.While it sounds simple to eliminate the gluten, the Catholic Church requires that the wafers be made with wheat, including the naturally-occurring gluten.

    Two nuns took this task upon themselves and set out to solve the problem.After much experimentation, Sister Lynn D’Souza created a communion wafer with the tiniest amount of gluten.So small, that most people with sensitivity to wheat gluten can still eat it; and just enough that it satisfied the requirements of the church.A miracle?Perhaps. People in need of gluten-free wafers can contact the Altar Breads office at 800-223-2772 or use the

    website.

    Blind Man, Blind Man - Herbie Hancock

    The full episode

    5 of 9
    Easter Show: Ukrainian Eggs, Jelly Beans, Communion Wafers
    1. 1:00The Market Report
    2. 7:00Still Incredible and Quite Edible Egg
    3. 13:00Ukrainian Egg Decorating
    4. 20:00On a Slow Boat to China
    5. 26:00Miraculous, Gluten-Free Communion WafersYou’re reading this
    6. 32:00Altar Wines
    7. 38:00For the Love of Peeps
    8. 44:00Gourmet Jelly Beans
    9. 50:00Easter Breads
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan Kleiman

      host 'Good Food'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Bob Carlson

      host and producer, 'UnFictional'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jennifer Ferro

      Jennifer Ferro, President, KCRW, Los Angeles

    • KCRW placeholder

      Thea Chaloner

      Supervising Producer, Good Food

      CultureFood & Drink

    The full episode

    5 of 9
    Easter Show: Ukrainian Eggs, Jelly Beans, Communion Wafers
    1. 1:00The Market Report
    2. 7:00Still Incredible and Quite Edible Egg
    3. 13:00Ukrainian Egg Decorating
    4. 20:00On a Slow Boat to China
    5. 26:00Miraculous, Gluten-Free Communion WafersYou’re reading this
    6. 32:00Altar Wines
    7. 38:00For the Love of Peeps
    8. 44:00Gourmet Jelly Beans
    9. 50:00Easter Breads
    Back to Good Food