The New Gluten Free Labeling Laws went into effect as of August 5, 2014, which was this past week. There are some things that grind my gears and some things that make me shake my head and wonder if anyone on that board has celiac disease or a food sensitivity problem. My guess is probably not due to how these bad boys turned out. So take a look below and let me know what you think about these in the comments below!
1. Basics of the law:
A food labeled gluten-free CANNOT contain wheat, barley or rye. While gluten containing grains have never been allowed in gluten free products, cross contamination was not taken into account… Now it is! However, note that the foods labeled gluten free have 20ppm or LOWER gluten. So for all of you sensitive souls out there, you need to be VERY CAREFUL.
2. The rules apply to ALL packaged foods regulated by the FDA.
The rules DO NOT apply to: MEAT, Poultry and most egg products as these are governed by the US Department of Agriculture. You may be in luck though because some of these companies that process meat, poultry and eggs will voluntarily follow the FDA regulations.
3. This labeling is VOLUNTARY, yep you heard me, VOLUNTARY.
So it is up to the food maker to decide if they want to meet the requirements and use the label. Some foods that are gluten-free may not have the label gluten-free. I know, why even put it into effect if it’s not mandatory… WHATEVER!
4. Naturally gluten free foods CAN be labeled gluten free.
Example- bottled water can be labeled gluten free. I like to call them dummy notes.
5. There is NO universal symbol for the label gluten-free.
(ha! Really?) However, the foods companies can use the terms “Gluten Free” or “No Gluten” or “ Free of Gluten,” by using these terms the product will have to meet the FDA regulations.
** The terms “ made with no gluten ingredients” are NOT a gluten-free label regulated by the FDA.
6. Certification seals like GIG and Certified Gluten free are still allowed though the FDA does not have a similar label, they are only using language terms.
The seal for using these labels have to meet the minimum requirements of the FDA as well. Several of these seals certify that their products are 10ppm or lower. Again, for all of you really sensitive souls, I would stick to finding these seals on the products that you buy for a while until all of these kinks in the law get worked out because you know there is going to be some!
7. Tricky one: If the food contains gluten is DOES NOT have to say that it contains gluten.
However, the allergy laws state that if there are any of the top 8 allergens in a product AT ALL it has to be listed in the ingredients under the “contains” section.So, if it has gluten in it in the form of wheat, it has to be listed, if it has gluten in it in the form of cross contamination, rye or barley it does not have to say it on the label anywhere.
8. A gluten free label CANNOT be used if the product contains wheat, barley or rye but has 20ppm in it.
The products CANNOT have ANY gluten containing grains in it whatsoever to have the label “no gluten or gluten free” . The main goal I feel is to keep cross-contamination to a minimum. Food makers are not allowed to use gluten-containing grains and somehow keep it under 20ppm, not supposed to happen, but you know; there are some rebel food companies out there, so just beware!
9. But wait- it gets better! While wheat is NEVER allowed in gluten-free foods, food makers CAN use derivatives of wheat in their products and just process it out or make sure it is under 20ppm.
Refer to the above statement, These two I feel totally contradict themselves. If there is not wheat allowed, in my opinion, wheat derivatives should NOT be allowed, but I am not the FDA. SO yeah, a gluten-free labeled product can also have a “contains wheat” statement on there, however, it will be under 20ppm. My advice, just stay away from these products altogether.
10. BEER!
Beer made from gluten free grains can continue to be labeled gluten free as long as it meets the FDA standard of 20ppm or less. Beer made from gluten-containing grains and then processed to remove gluten CANNOT use the label gluten-free…. Cough …Omission Beer… Cough. Omission can be labeled gluten free in Oregon where it is processed, but it cannot be sold across state lines with the gluten free label. This labeling could change very soon as the FDA is discussing how to label fermented products. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulates beer made with barley and hops, including the gluten removed beer on the market, the bureau plans to not allow the beer labeled gluten free after the FDA decides on laws around fermented foods.
11. OATS are gluten free my friends and they always have been!!
The only reason that they may not be labeled gluten free is due to heavy cross contamination in the processing facilities. This has been a huge controversy however there is NO GLUTEN in oats themselves, again it comes from the cross contamination. I would still stick to certified gluten free oats. Oats in gluten-free labeled products will have lower than 20 ppm, however if gluten is mixed into the ingredients it will NOT say if the oats are certified. So here is the deal, if something has oats in it as an ingredient, make sure it has a gluten free label on it! Otherwise, you could be playing Russian roulette.
12. Food Companies DO NOT have to test their products to ensure they are 20 ppm or less to use gluten-free label ( I mean what the *&$# is the point of the freaking label then right?)
They are going to be using the word of mouth from suppliers and if they want to they can test using third party verification products.
13. The FDA will enforce this via the follow up rule ( this is why I suggested waiting until they get all the kinks worked out before you go having a hay day on gluten-free labeled products).
The followup rule works like this- they will use label review and consumer complaints and when needed they will test for gluten. To be quiet honest, this one grinds my gears because again I say, what the heck is the freaking point of the label and the law if it’s not being enforced. I’m not sure the government is really on the side of increasing health and awareness in this country. Gross.
