diff --git a/Laptop/AimMembers.cpp b/Laptop/AimMembers.cpp
index d0f0561f7..aa0450337 100644
--- a/Laptop/AimMembers.cpp
+++ b/Laptop/AimMembers.cpp
@@ -5633,28 +5633,15 @@ void EnableWeaponKitSelectionButtons()
 	{
 		if ( !(gMercProfiles[gbCurrentSoldier].ubMiscFlags & PROFILE_MISC_FLAG_ALREADY_USED_ITEMS) || gGameExternalOptions.fGearKitsAlwaysAvailable )
 		{
-			bool bShow;
-			INT16 usItem;
 			for(int i=0; i<NUM_MERCSTARTINGGEAR_KITS; ++i)
 			{
-				bShow = false;
 				for(int j=INV_START_POS; j<NUM_INV_SLOTS; ++j)
 				{
-					usItem = gMercProfileGear[gbCurrentSoldier][i].inv[j];
-					if(usItem != NONE)
+					if(gMercProfileGear[gbCurrentSoldier][i].inv[j] != NONE)
 					{
-						bShow = true;
-						//shadooow: if any of the item in kit is limited to specific system and this system isn't enabled then disable the whole kit from selection
-						if (((Item[usItem].usLimitedToSystem & FOOD_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !UsingFoodSystem()) || ((Item[usItem].usLimitedToSystem & DISEASE_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !gGameExternalOptions.fDisease))
-						{
-							bShow = false;
-							break;
-						}
-					}					
-				}
-				if (bShow)
-				{
-					ShowButton(giWeaponboxSelectionButton[i]);
+						ShowButton( giWeaponboxSelectionButton[i] );
+						break;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/Tactical/Item Types.h b/Tactical/Item Types.h
index 4fbfb6504..3d82e35e7 100644
--- a/Tactical/Item Types.h	
+++ b/Tactical/Item Types.h	
@@ -947,9 +947,6 @@ extern OBJECTTYPE gTempObject;
 // autofiretohitbonus,
 // bursttohitbonus
 
-// bitflags for usLimitedToSystem
-#define FOOD_SYSTEM_FLAG		1
-#define DISEASE_SYSTEM_FLAG		2
 
 typedef struct
 {
@@ -1218,8 +1215,9 @@ typedef struct
 	BOOLEAN	fProvidesRobotCamo;
 	BOOLEAN	fProvidesRobotNightVision;
 	BOOLEAN fProvidesRobotLaserBonus;
-	//shadooow: bitflag controlling what system needs to be in play for item to appear
-	UINT8	usLimitedToSystem;
+
+    // kitty: item exclusively available with disease feature 
+	BOOLEAN DiseaseSystemExclusive; 
 
 	// rftr: the progress bounds that allow a transport group to drop an item
 	INT8 iTransportGroupMinProgress;
diff --git a/Tactical/Items.cpp b/Tactical/Items.cpp
index 6e3535525..6e154a04c 100644
--- a/Tactical/Items.cpp
+++ b/Tactical/Items.cpp
@@ -1279,8 +1279,9 @@ BOOLEAN ItemIsLegal( UINT16 usItemIndex, BOOLEAN fIgnoreCoolness )
 			return FALSE;
 	}
 
-	//shadooow: exclude also any item that is limited to specific system and this system isn't enabled
-	if (((Item[usItemIndex].usLimitedToSystem & FOOD_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !UsingFoodSystem()) || ((Item[usItemIndex].usLimitedToSystem & DISEASE_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !gGameExternalOptions.fDisease))
+	// kitty: no disease items if the disease system is off
+	// whether the item is exclusive is defined by tag
+	if (!gGameExternalOptions.fDisease && Item[usItemIndex].DiseaseSystemExclusive)
 	{
 		return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/Tactical/ShopKeeper Interface.cpp b/Tactical/ShopKeeper Interface.cpp
index 427a0fc59..505ce3774 100644
--- a/Tactical/ShopKeeper Interface.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/ShopKeeper Interface.cpp	
@@ -2896,13 +2896,6 @@ BOOLEAN DetermineArmsDealersSellingInventory( )
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		//shadooow: do not sell any item that is limited to specific system and this system isn't enabled
-		if (((Item[iter->object.usItem].usLimitedToSystem & FOOD_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !UsingFoodSystem()) || ((Item[iter->object.usItem].usLimitedToSystem & DISEASE_SYSTEM_FLAG) && !gGameExternalOptions.fDisease))
-		{
-			++iter;
-			continue;
-		}
-
 		bool increment = true;
 		if (ItemIsSpecial(*iter) == false) {
 			StoreObjectsInNextFreeDealerInvSlot( &(*iter), gpTempDealersInventory, gbSelectedArmsDealerID );
diff --git a/Utils/XML_Items.cpp b/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
index 5c1c37aec..76652ae4c 100644
--- a/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
+++ b/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ itemStartElementHandle(void *userData, const XML_Char *name, const XML_Char **at
 				strcmp(name, "ProvidesRobotCamo") == 0 ||
 				strcmp(name, "ProvidesRobotNightVision") == 0 ||
 				strcmp(name, "ProvidesRobotLaserBonus") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(name, "FoodSystemExclusive") == 0 ||
 				strcmp(name, "DiseaseSystemExclusive") == 0 ||
 				strcmp(name, "TransportGroupMinProgress") == 0 ||
 				strcmp(name, "TransportGroupMaxProgress") == 0
@@ -1515,17 +1514,10 @@ itemEndElementHandle(void *userData, const XML_Char *name)
 			pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
 			pData->curItem.fProvidesRobotLaserBonus = (BOOLEAN)atol(pData->szCharData);
 		}
-		else if (strcmp(name, "FoodSystemExclusive") == 0)
-		{
-			pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
-			if (atol(pData->szCharData))
-				pData->curItem.usLimitedToSystem|= FOOD_SYSTEM_FLAG;
-		}
 		else if (strcmp(name, "DiseaseSystemExclusive") == 0)
 		{
-			pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
-			if (atol(pData->szCharData))
-			pData->curItem.usLimitedToSystem|= DISEASE_SYSTEM_FLAG;
+		    pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
+		    pData->curItem.DiseaseSystemExclusive = (BOOLEAN)atol(pData->szCharData);
 		}
 		else if (strcmp(name, "TransportGroupMinProgress") == 0)
 		{
@@ -2194,6 +2186,8 @@ BOOLEAN WriteItemStats()
 			FilePrintf(hFile,"\t\t<ProvidesRobotNightVision>%d</ProvidesRobotNightVision>\r\n",			Item[cnt].fProvidesRobotNightVision );
 			FilePrintf(hFile,"\t\t<ProvidesRobotLaserBonus>%d</ProvidesRobotLaserBonus>\r\n",			Item[cnt].fProvidesRobotLaserBonus );
 
+			FilePrintf(hFile, "\t\t<DiseaseSystemExclusive>%d</DiseaseSystemExclusive>\r\n",            Item[cnt].DiseaseSystemExclusive);
+
 			FilePrintf(hFile,"\t</ITEM>\r\n");
 		}
 		FilePrintf(hFile,"</ITEMLIST>\r\n");