Tricia Thompson, Author at Gluten Free Watchdog

01 Sep 2022

Update on Pamela’s Products Allergen Advisory Statement

On August 10, 2022, Gluten Free Watchdog reached out to Pamela’s Products:

The addition of wheat to your allergen advisory statement on product packaging for gluten-free foods is causing a lot of concern in the celiac disease community. I understand from your FAQs that you still use dedicated lines for many of your gluten-free products. Can you please let me know why products produced on dedicated lines contain a shared equipment warning vs a shared facility warning. Thank you.

Pamela’s Products […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten-Free Labeling 6 Comments Read more...

31 Aug 2022

The Need for a Standardized Sample Portion When Testing Food for Gluten Using an LFD: A Case Study

Gluten Free Watchdog along with Adrian Rogers, Bio-Check (UK), and Luke Emerson-Mason (Bia Diagnostics) recently presented an abstract and poster at the AOAC International annual meeting.

The abstract and poster are based on testing of Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Strawberry.

View full size poster HERE.

Abstract: Consumers with celiac disease have access to lateral flow devices (LFDs) to test food for gluten. Erroneous results may occur due to matrix effects and sampling that can cause confusion among consumers and lead […]

By Tricia Thompson Testing for Gluten Contamination 5 Comments Read more...

30 Aug 2022

Gluten Free Watchdog no longer recommends GF Harvest as a source of purity protocol oats

Until further notice, Gluten Free Watchdog does not recommend GF Harvest as a source of purity protocol oats.

Gluten Free Watchdog recently analyzed five bags of oat products from GF Harvest. Testing using the sandwich R5 ELISA found gluten in quantifiable levels in both GF Harvest oat flour and GF Harvest organic rolled oats.

Back story: A subscriber to Gluten Free Watchdog reached out about GF Harvest oats due to test results posted to Facebook. The Nima Sensor detected gluten in […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten Contamination of Food, Gluten-Free Oats, Grain Contamination, Product Alerts 29 Comments Read more...

19 Aug 2022

Walgreens tells pharmacists they should not counsel that any given medication is gluten-free

Where does this leave people with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders? The handout posted below was provided to Gluten Free Watchdog by a consumer. She received this information when she picked up her prescription. Gluten Free Watchdog is requesting comment on the handout as we contemplate next steps. Please also read the information below the photo. Thank you!

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Gluten in Medicine Disclosure Act of 2021 (originally posted on April 22, 2021)

Note: This act does not appear to have made […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten in Medicine 12 Comments Read more...

03 Aug 2022

Gluten Free Watchdog presents with FDA at IAFP on Gluten in Fermented/Hydrolyzed Foods

Amy Keller, MS, RDN, LD, an associate at Gluten Free Watchdog presented with FDA at the International Association of Food Protection conference. The session, titled “Gluten in Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods: Regulatory, Consumer, and Analytical Perspectives” was presented today, August 3, 2022. Gluten Free Watchdog was invited by FDA to represent the voice of the consumer. We greatly appreciate this opportunity. The slides presented by Gluten Free Watchdog are available at: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/fdapresentatiinamykelleraugust-3/

By Tricia Thompson Rule on Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods 4 Comments Read more...

26 Jul 2022

FDA is acting on complaints filed by Gluten Free Watchdog

This spring we filed 6 Freedom of Information Act requests with FDA representing 11 products containing malt-based ingredients.* All products had been reported to FDA for facial misbranding by Gluten Free Watchdog. What follows is a summary of the information included in the materials obtained from FDA. A huge thank you to Adam, one of GFWD’s pro-bono attorneys for filing these requests.

*We also filed FOIA requests for three additional products containing wheat. As of July 26, 2022, we have […]

By Tricia Thompson Facial Misbranding, FDA Action Alerts, Gluten-Free Labeling 3 Comments Read more...

25 May 2022

Liquid IV: Statement from Gluten Free Watchdog

Gluten Free Watchdog received several complaints about this product from consumers after they tested Liquid IV using lateral flow devices, including EZ Gluten and Nima Sensor and received positive results for gluten. A consumer’s retained sample and a new box of the same flavor of Liquid IV were tested at Bia Diagnostics, LLC (an accredited laboratory) using the fully validated sandwich R5 ELISA, the competitive R5 ELISA, and EZ Gluten test strips.

When the product was tested using the sandwich […]

By Tricia Thompson Testing for Gluten Contamination 3 Comments Read more...

24 May 2022

Does FDA ever intend to take public enforcement action against manufacturers misbranding products gluten-free that list malt ingredients?

As of May 23, 2022, FDA has not taken any public enforcement action on misbranded products labeled gluten-free yet listing malt, malt extract, malt syrup, or malt vinegar in the ingredients (all made from barley unless another source is declared, such as corn malt).

On February 23, 2022, Gluten Free Watchdog sent a letter to Susan Mayne, PhD, Director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The letter stated in part:

“We are deeply concerned that the gluten-free labeling […]

By Tricia Thompson Uncategorized 4 Comments Read more...

18 May 2022

If you would like to make a donation to a worthy cause for Celiac Disease Awareness Month, here is a suggestion

Please consider making a donation to Mend Hunger or Feeding Gluten-Free. Mend Hunger and the National Celiac Association (NCA) have partnered to make gluten-free hunger relief available at no-cost to households impacted by disasters across the continental United States. This program provides “safe” disaster relief boxes to those with celiac disease. NCA also runs the nationwide program, Feeding Gluten-Free. At Gluten Free Watchdog we are so very grateful for the efforts of NCA!

For information on Feeding Gluten-Free, see https://nationalceliac.org/feeding-gluten-free/

For […]

By Tricia Thompson Celiac Disease Awareness Month 2022 0 Comments Read more...

17 May 2022

Audio Message from Gluten Free Watchdog Asking You to Comment on FDA’s Draft Guidance on Evaluating the Public Health Importance of Food Allergens

Please take 3 minutes to listen to my message and then head over to the docket and comment.

Comment here https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FDA-2021-N-0553-0005

Use any or all of the text from Gluten Free Watchdog’s comment available here https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CommentGlutenFreeWatchdogFDA-2021-N-0553-0005.pdf

By Tricia Thompson Uncategorized 1 Comment Read more...

Author: Tricia Thompson