News
16 Jan 2025

Final FDA guidance published on evaluating the public health importance of food allergens other than the major food allergens: What are the implications for gluten?

This month (January 2025) the FDA published the final guidance, “Evaluating the Public Health Importance of Food Allergens Other Than the Major Food Allergens Listed in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Guidance for FDA Staff and Interested Parties.” It is available at  https://www.fda.gov/media/157637/download?attachment. Gluten Free Watchdog submitted comments on the draft. This week, GFWD had a very informative and helpful call with FDA staff. We discussed the changes that were made to the final guidance document. One important update—while...
By FDA Action Alerts8 CommentsRead more...
03 Dec 2024

Trader Joe’s responds to Gluten Free Watchdog’s meeting request about gluten-free rolled oats

Bottom Line: Gluten Free Watchdog reached out to Trader Joe’s asking for a conference to discuss how to make gluten-free claims on Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats reliable. Trader Joe’s response was basically, no thank you. Trader Joe’s believes their oats are in compliance with the gluten-free labeling rule. They are calling the results of testing commissioned by Gluten Free Watchdog false positives. They write in their response letter, “Certain gluten tests interact with some other non-gluten ingredients, resulting in false positives,...
By Gluten Contamination of Food, Gluten-Free Oats4 CommentsRead more...
11 Nov 2024

Product warning for Progresso Manhattan Clam Chowder from Gluten Free Watchdog

Bottom line: This soup is labeled gluten-free and lists yeast extract in the ingredients. Per the manufacturer, the yeast extract is derived from barley. Gluten Free Watchdog has long recommended that individuals with celiac disease avoid products NOT labeled gluten-free containing the ingredient “yeast extract” unless the manufacturer confirms the source to be gluten-free. It is concerning that a labeled gluten-free product contains yeast extract derived from barley. We have filed a complaint with the FDA. Under the FDA’s rule for the...
By Barley Contamination6 CommentsRead more...
07 Nov 2024

Open letter to Trader Joe’s about their “gluten-free” rolled oats on behalf of the Gluten Free Watchdog community

Dear Trader Joe’s, In September of 2024, Gluten Free Watchdog commissioned testing on 6 bags of Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats. Results ranged from < 5 parts per million to 120 parts per million of gluten. Full results are available at https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/product/trader-joes-gluten-free-rolled-oats-2024/1372. These results were shared with you but you have chosen to not respond. We also tested a bag of Trader Joe’s gluten-free rolled oats and Trader Joe’s organic gluten-free rolled oats with ancient grains and seeds that were part of...
By Gluten-Free Oats2 CommentsRead more...
01 Oct 2024

How to file a gluten-free food complaint with the FDA starting October 1, 2024: The process has changed

On October 1, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration updated the way in which consumers must go about reporting food-related issues to the agency. You will no longer contact an FDA consumer complaint coordinator. Reports should now be filed with the Human Foods Program either by phone or through the online safety reporting portal: Phone 1-888-723-3366 Online safety reporting portal https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov/SRP2/en/Home.aspx?sid=94c7561c-d4de-4e38-9f87-3bb240d20776 The Human Foods Program will assess and evaluate complaints. The new Office of Inspections and Investigations will follow up with manufacturers...
By Uncategorized2 CommentsRead more...
10 Aug 2024

Correcting the Record: Gluten Free Watchdog’s Testing of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Almost Everything Bagels

Background For those of you who have not been following the Moms Across America testing of gluten-free labeled products, and in particular Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Almost Everything Bagels, here are links to the test results which have been moved to the public side of the website, along with a more concise summary: Test results: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/product/trader-joes-gf-almost-everything-bagels-2024/1348 Summary: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/test-result-from-moms-across-america-on-trader-joes-gluten-free-almost-everything-bagels-possibly-false-positive/ Current situation There has recently been a mischaracterization of Gluten Free Watchdog posted by another website covering this testing issue. The following statement was posted on celiac.com and...
By Testing for Gluten Contamination24 CommentsRead more...
23 Jul 2024

Test result from Moms Across America for Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Almost Everything Bagels Possible False Positive

Gluten Free Watchdog tested Trader Joe’s Almost Everything Bagels due to consumer concerns over the results of testing commissioned by the group Moms Across America. This is a complex test report summary. Please bear with us as we try to explain the discrepancy between the Moms Across America test results and Gluten Free Watchdog test results. Bottom line: The test result from Moms Across America for Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Almost Everything Bagels may be a false positive, especially if the lab did...
By Testing for Gluten Contamination, Uncategorized0 CommentsRead more...
30 Jan 2024

Yeast extract confusion redux

In 2019, we wrote about a consumer complaint we received for a labeled gluten-free soup. The product includes the ingredient “flavors (including yeast extract).” Long story short, the consumer who contacted us was told by customer service representatives that brewer’s yeast is the source of the yeast extract. However, she did not receive a definitive answer regarding whether the brewer’s yeast is spent brewer’s yeast. Fast forward to 2024. Gluten Free Watchdog received a consumer inquiry about the autolyzed yeast extract...
By Barley Contamination, Gluten-Free Labeling8 CommentsRead more...