NEW GF Labeling Standards....

On July 1st, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, associated with the WorldHealth Organization (WHO), announced new gluten-free labeling standards.The new labeling standard states that food labeled gluten-free may notcontain wheat, rye, barley or oats, and its gluten level may not exceed 20milligrams per kilogram (20 parts per million).

This Codex standard is used by countries throughout the world. While itwill apply to products which are imported to the U.S., it will NOT APPLY toproducts manufactured in this country. To date, the U.S. has not adoptedany GF standard, though one has been proposed by the FDA. That standard issimilar to the one just adopted by the Codex Commission. As you mayrecall, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA)required the FDA to have a standard in place by August 2008.

With the Codex Commissionʼs latest action, we are hopeful that the FDA willmove expeditiously to finalize its standard for the United States.

Andrea Levario
Executive Director
American Celiac Disease Alliance
www.americanceliac.org