Now G-Free Diet Gets a P for Plagiarism: Elisabeth Hasselbeck Sued Over Originality Of Gluten-Free Book

I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s book, “The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide. ” In case you missed my earlier post, I’m troubled by how she promotes a gluten-free diet for everyone (not just for those who have celiac disease).  Plus, she didn’t even get all her facts right.

Now she’s been accused of plagiarism.  Susan Hassett, author of a self-published book called “Living With Celiac Disease,” filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that Hasselbeck lifted “word for word” content from her book.

As described in this letter from her lawyer, Hassett sent Hasselbeck a personal note and a copy of her book as a courtesy after The View co-host mentioned last year that she had celiac.  Hassett said Hasselbeck never responded.

Hassett told the Associated Press that The G-Free Diet “slavishly reproduces”  lists and passages from her own work and includes inaccuracies about celiac disease that can be “misleading and dangerous” for people with the illness. 

Not sure it can get any worse.  The book has been widely condemned by the celiac community and now this.   Will be interesting to see how this unfolds.  It’s certainly not the first time there’s been a public food fight over plagiarism.  Remember Jessica Seinfeld and the Sneaky Chef?    Why, oh why, are celebrities the new food and nutrition experts?

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Tagged as: celiac, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Elisabeth Hasselbeck plagiarism, G-Free Diet, gluten-free, gluten-free as a fad