New Gluten-Free Labeling Rule on Food Packaging Goes Into Effect

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule to define the term “gluten-free” for voluntary use in the labeling of foods.  According to the FDA, the new rule was needed because of the large number of people who suffer from celiac disease. It went into effect earlier this month and was put into place because there were no existing regulations to define the “gluten-free” claim made on many food packages.

The FDA states, “The final rule defines the term “gluten-free” to mean that the food bearing the claim does not contain an ingredient that is a gluten-containing grain (e.g., spelt wheat); an ingredient that is derived from a gluten-containing grain and that has not been processed to remove gluten (e.g., wheat flour); or an ingredient that is derived from a gluten-containing grain and that has been processed to remove gluten (e.g., wheat starch), if the use of that ingredient results in the presence of 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten in the food (i.e., 20 milligrams (mg) or more gluten per kilogram (kg) of food); or inherently does not contain gluten; and that any unavoidable presence of gluten in the food is below 20 ppm gluten (i.e., below 20 mg gluten per kg of food).”

The ingestion of certain storage proteins known as gluten can trigger a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestine known as celiac disease.  Gluten occurs in wheat, rye, barley and crossbreeds of these grains.

“Because celiac disease has no cure, individuals who have the disease are advised to avoid gluten in their diet,” reported Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Director at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “EMSL provides gluten (gliadin) testing services to identify these proteins in foods and raw ingredients.  We also provide food labeling services for food manufacturers, distributors and retailers.”

To learn more about gluten or other food testing services, please visit www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of food, environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

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