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How Risky are shared fryers? New study offers real-world data for People with Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease Foundation October 20, 2026 LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - A new multi-center study led by the Celiac Disease Foundation, in collaboration with researchers and clinicians from Children's Hospital Colorado, Columbia University Medical Center, Mass General Brigham for Children, the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, Vanderbilt Health, and Bia Diagnostics, provides some of the most comprehensive real-world data to date on gluten cross-contact in foods prepared in shared fryers. The study, "Shared Fryers May Not Always Be as Risky for Gluten Cross-Contact in Celiac Disease as Dietary Guidance Suggests," was published today in Nutrients. Researchers tested 98 samples of naturally gluten-free foods, including 55 orders of French fries and 43 orders of tortilla chips, prepared in fryers that were also used for gluten-containing foods. Samples were collected from food service establishments across 14 U.S. states under routine, real-world operating conditions. Overall, 93.9% of samples contained less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, including all 43 tortilla chip samples. Only 6.1% exceeded 20 ppm, all of which were French fries. None of the samples from establishments reporting daily fryer oil replacement exceeded 20 ppm. "This study is not a green light to eat from any shared fryer," said Vanessa Weisbrod, Chief Programs Officer at the Celiac Disease Foundation and lead author of the study. "What it gives our community is something we have been missing: real-world data. People with celiac disease make decisions about cross-contact every time they eat outside their homes, often without evidence to help them understand the magnitude of that risk. These findings can help move us from blanket assumptions toward informed conversations with healthcare providers about risk, frequency of exposure, and individual circumstances." What the Researchers Found Of the 98 foods tested, 92 samples, or 93.9%, contained less than 20 ppm of gluten, the threshold used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for foods labeled gluten-free. Six samples, or 6.1%, exceeded 20 ppm, demonstrating that gluten cross-contact can and does occur in shared fryers. Among those six samples, concentrations ranged from 29.6 ppm to greater than 80 ppm. Results differed by food type. All 43 tortilla chip samples measured below 5 ppm, the laboratory assay's limit of quantification. All six samples exceeding 20 ppm were French fries. Among the 55 French fry samples tested, approximately 11% exceeded 20 ppm. Fryer management practices also matter. None of the 39 samples collected from establishments reporting daily oil replacement exceeded 20 ppm, compared with four of 35 samples from establishments reporting weekly oil replacement. This difference was statistically significant, although the observational study cannot establish that oil-change frequency itself caused the difference. All samples were analyzed by Bia Diagnostics, an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory in Vermont, using the R-Biopharm RIDASCREEN(R) Gliadin R5 sandwich ELISA according to AOAC International Official Method 2012.01. Each food sample was homogenized separately in its entirety before a 1-gram test portion was analyzed. Samples were not pooled or combined. "For years, patients with celiac disease have been given very categorical guidance about shared fryers, largely because we have had limited real-world data to quantify the exposure," said Edwin Liu, MD, a study co-author from Children's Hospital Colorado. "These findings don't tell us that every shared fryer is safe. They tell us that the risk is not the same in every situation. That distinction is important as we work toward more evidence-based counseling that protects patients while also recognizing the realities of living with celiac disease." The study builds on earlier research examining gluten cross-contact in shared fryers, including work led by dietitian Tricia Thompson of Gluten Free Watchdog, which provided some of the first real-world evidence that gluten cross-contact can occur when French fries are prepared in shared fryers. Research by Katharine Parsons and colleagues at Brigham Young University also demonstrated gluten transfer through shared fryer oil. The new, larger study builds on this body of evidence by examining a broader range of real-world restaurant samples and factors that may contribute to differences in gluten exposure. From "Safe or Unsafe" to Understanding Risk People with celiac disease are commonly advised to avoid shared fryers because gluten-containing breading or batter may contaminate fryer oil and transfer gluten to otherwise gluten-free foods. However, relatively little real-world evidence has been available to quantify how frequently this occurs or the magnitude of gluten exposure when it does. "For people with celiac disease, dining decisions are rarely as simple as 'safe' or 'unsafe,'" said Meghan McKeon, MS, RD, CSDH, Senior Director of Education at the Celiac Disease Foundation. "These findings give us better information to help patients understand and weigh risk. A gluten concentration is only one piece of the picture. We also need to consider how much someone eats, how often an exposure occurs, and how it fits into their overall gluten exposure. The goal is to give people the evidence and context they need to make informed decisions with their healthcare team." For that reason, the researchers are not recommending that people with celiac disease begin routinely eating foods prepared in shared fryers. Rather, these findings provide new evidence that patients, families, dietitians, and clinicians can use when discussing risk and making individualized decisions. What This Means for People with Celiac Disease "This is about giving people better information, not taking away precautions," Weisbrod said. "Someone may look at these data and decide that avoiding shared fryers remains the right choice for them. Someone else, after talking with their dietitian or physician, may make a different decision in a particular situation. The goal is to give people with celiac disease and their healthcare providers better evidence to inform those decisions." Researchers say the findings also underscore the need for additional study. Larger studies that repeatedly sample the same fryers over time and examine additional food-service practices could help further characterize cross-contact risk. Future studies that combine measured gluten exposure with clinical outcomes may also help researchers better understand how different sources of gluten exposure contribute to long-term health. Media Contact: Emily Piken Celiac Disease Foundation [email protected] 310.905.3437 x106 SOURCE Celiac Disease Foundation Distributed by PR Newswire / Cision.

Becker's honors Vanderbilt Health's Ruchika Talwar on its 'rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40' list. Emerging leaders recognized on the list are driving innovation, championing better outcomes and leading boldly, according to a release from Becker's. By: Craig Boerner Becker's Hospital Review is honoring Vanderbilt Health's Ruchika Talwar, MD, MMHC, Medical Director of Episodes of Care, Population Health, with inclusion on its 2026 "Rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40" list. Emerging leaders recognized on the list are driving innovation, championing better outcomes and leading boldly, according to a release from Becker's. "I'm incredibly honored by this recognition, but the work it reflects is truly a team effort. None of what we've accomplished in Episodes of Care and specialty value-based care at Vanderbilt Health would be possible without my co-director, Chelsea Parris, whose partnership has been instrumental, or the leadership of C.J. Stimson, who has created the vision and opportunity for this work to grow and have meaningful impact for our patients," said Talwar, Assistant Professor of Urology. "I'm also deeply grateful for the mentorship of Dave Penson, whom I first met as a medical student. Throughout every stage of my career, he has encouraged me to pursue a path that extends beyond traditional surgical practice and has supported my interests in health policy, research, health system leadership, and advisory work on Capitol Hill and with Medicare. His willingness to invest in those varied experiences has been critical to my development as a leader and has given me the opportunity to contribute to improving health care both at Vanderbilt Health and nationally." In her role as Medical Director of Episodes of Care, Talwar leads the operationalizing and scaling of Medicare and commercial specialty value-based care programs, including MyHealth Bundles, a value-based bundled payment program at Vanderbilt Health. She has overseen the expansion of MyHealth Bundles to regional Vanderbilt Health facilities. Through December 2025, more than 11,000 patients had participated in MyHealth Bundles across various specialty bundles, collectively reducing out-of-pocket spending by $3.4 million, while self-insured employers saved an average of $1.4 million annually from the highest-volume bundles. The programhascut average wait times for cochlear implants from 152 days to two days; reduced diabetes-related spending by 40%; and decreased cesarean section rates by nearly 5% compared with market benchmarks. Talwar also maintains active clinical practice as a urologic oncologist, performing robotic and open urologic cancer surgery, and consults for other health systems seeking to replicate the bundled-payment model. "Ruchi does it all, and this honor is just more proof of it. Whether she is managing the episodes of care project, teaching residents or performing complicated urologic surgeries, she does it with grace and ease," said David Penson, MD, MPH, MMHC, the Paul V. Hamilton MD and Virginia E. Howd Professor of Urologic Oncology and Chair of the Department of Urology. "I am so proud of her and am truly heartened to see Becker's recognizing her accomplishments." Talwar held the H. Logan Holtgrewe Legislative Fellowship, working on Capitol Hill to advise on health legislation, and has served as chair of the American Urological Association's residents and fellows committee. Her research on drug pricing and value transformation, including a study evaluating cost-saving opportunities through the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company model, has been published in NEJM Catalyst, JAMA and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "This recognition may have my name on it, but it reflects the mentors, colleagues and teams across Vanderbilt Health who have invested in me and who make this work possible every day," Talwar said.

Scientist whose work revealed immune system-hypertension link to receive the 2026 Joseph A. Vita Award. Dr. Annet Kirabo of Vanderbilt Health to receive the 2026 Joseph A. Vita Award at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026 Embargoed until 8 a.m. CT/9 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 DALLAS, Sept. 30, 2026 - A groundbreaking scientist whose discoveries revealed how immune activation and inflammation contribute to high blood pressure will be recognized by the American Heart Association at its annual Scientific Sessions in November. Annet Kirabo, D.V.M., Ph.D., FAHA, professor of medicine in the division of genetic medicine and clinical pharmacology at Vanderbilt Health, will receive the 2026 Joseph A. Vita Award at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting, to be held Nov. 6-9, 2026, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. Dr. Kirabo will be presented with the award during the Opening Session on Saturday, Nov. 7. Named after late cardiovascular scientist Joseph A. Vita, M.D., this award is presented annually to a scientist whose research has significantly advanced the fields of cardiovascular biology or cardiovascular health within the past five years and whose work has been published in the journals of the American Heart Association. Dr. Vita was the founding editor of the Heart Association's open-access, peer-reviewed Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). The award recipient is selected by the editors-in-chief of the Association's 14 peer-reviewed scientific journals and celebrates research that transforms or changes the direction of cardiovascular science. "Dr. Annet Kirabo exemplifies the spirit of the Joseph A. Vita Award, which recognizes research that changes the direction of cardiovascular science," said Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president, the Richard S. Stack, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Medicine, chief of the division of cardiology and vice president of heart and vascular services at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "Her pioneering discoveries represent a paradigm shift in cardiovascular biology, reshaping our understanding of hypertension by revealing how immune activation and inflammation drive cardiovascular disease. Through innovative, multidisciplinary research, she has uncovered potential therapeutic targets, including reactive lipid molecules called isolevuglandins and sodium-sensing pathways in immune cells, that have opened exciting possibilities for preventing and treating hypertension and related cardiovascular and kidney diseases." Dr. Kirabo is internationally recognized for discoveries that have redefined the role of immune activation and inflammation in hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Her groundbreaking research demonstrated that lipid oxidation-derived protein adducts, which are proteins altered when they bind to highly reactive molecules produced during the oxidation of fats, act as neoantigens that trigger antigen-presenting cell activation, T-cell responses, vascular dysfunction and hypertension. These discoveries fundamentally changed scientific understanding of how the immune system contributes to blood pressure regulation. Today, her laboratory combines immunology, vascular biology, genomics, metabolomics and single-cell technologies to identify new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular and kidney disease. Her research spans the full spectrum of discovery science, from defining fundamental disease mechanisms to advancing translational research with the potential to transform patient care. With more than 230 scientific publications, sustained National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and numerous influential articles published in the Heart Association's journals, Dr. Kirabo's work has established new directions in cardiovascular science and continues to influence investigators worldwide. Beyond her scientific discoveries, Dr. Kirabo has been an active Heart Association volunteer since 2009. She has served on the Council on Hypertension Communications Committee since 2018, including as chair from 2022 to 2024, and on the Council Operations Committee since 2024. She also has reviewed Association research proposals since 2017 and chaired sessions at scientific meetings in 2018, 2022 and 2023. Dr. Kirabo has served on the editorial board of the Hypertension journal since 2018 and as an associate editor of Circulation Research since 2019. "I am deeply honored to receive the Joseph A. Vita Award from the American Heart Association, an organization that has supported my career from my predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships through my development as an independent investigator," said Dr. Kirabo. "Scientific discovery, mentorship and advancing new treatments for cardiovascular disease have been the primary focus of my career, and it is both rewarding and humbling to be recognized for it." Dr. Kirabo earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree with honors from Makerere University in Uganda before completing a master of science in cell and molecular biology at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and a doctorate in physiology and functional genomics at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular disease and inflammation at Vanderbilt University, where she now leads an internationally recognized research program and mentors the next generation of cardiovascular scientists. A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Kirabo has trained dozens of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early-career investigators, many of whom have gone on to faculty positions and independent research careers. Her commitment to mentorship, scientific collaboration and innovation continues to shape the future of cardiovascular research while expanding opportunities for emerging scientists around the world. Additional Resources: * Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link. * For more news at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, follow Louisiana Cardiology Associates LLC on X @HeartNews, #ScientificSessions26. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, Louisiana Cardiology Associates LLC fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, Louisiana Cardiology Associates LLC work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with Louisiana Cardiology Associates LLC on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries: American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; [email protected]