Barley Contamination

Is the FDA enforcing the gluten-free labeling rule: You be the judge!

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. Instead of contacting an FDA consumer complaint coordinator, reports are now filed with the Human Foods Program either by phone or through the online safety reporting portal. Gluten Free Watchdog also was asked to use the portal. According to an email sent out by the FDA, “This streamlined process will expedite delivery of inquiries and complaints to...

Kirkland Signature Roasted Turkey Breast and Yeast Extract

Product warning for Kirkland Signature Roasted Turkey Breast. This product is labeled gluten-free and it contains yeast extract. Based on email correspondence with Costco, the yeast extract in this product may be brewer’s yeast sourced from the beer brewing process. (Brewer’s yeast from the beer brewing process is known as spent brewer’s yeast-- what’s left of yeast once it has been used to make beer. Consequently, spent brewer’s yeast may include gluten from malt and grain.) Correspondence from Costco: “Our supplier uses PHR-YL...

Yeast Extract: Can it be “hidden” under natural flavor?

Short answer: Based on the response Gluten Free Watchdog received from the Food and Drug Administration, yeast extract can't be hidden under natural flavor--yeast extract must be declared. More details: Gluten Free Watchdog reached out to the FDA to ask if the ingredient “yeast extract” has to be declared in the ingredients list as “yeast extract” or if it can be listed as “natural flavor.” The FDA responded by citing two CFRs: Under the FDA’s Code of Federal Regulations, “The...

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...

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...

Gluten Testing of Food Containing Barley Amylase: Poster Presented at AOMSC 2023

To download the poster presented at the Asia-Oceania Mass Spectrometry Conference, please see: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PosterAOMSC20230703_AO-MSC_MN_Poster.pdf AOMSC 2023 Poster Abstract Investigation of foods containing beta-amylase for gluten content Mitchell G. Nye-Wood (a), Tricia Thompson (b), Margaret Clegg (b), Michelle L. Colgrave (*a) School of Science, and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia (a) Gluten Free Watchdog, LLC, Manchester, MA (b) Gluten proteins are unique food allergens that are a common dietary component for many...

Gluten-Free Claim Removed from KA-ME Hong Kong Express Rice Noodles

In May 2022, Gluten Free Watchdog (GFWD) reported KA-ME Hong Kong Express Rice Noodles to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS). At the time, product packaging included a gluten-free claim yet barley amylase was declared in the ingredients list. In February 2023, GFWD submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with FDA to find out what action was taken on our complaint. One of the...

Dandy Blend Instant Herbal Beverage: Where is the enforcement FDA?

This herbal beverage is labeled gluten-free and lists as ingredients “extracts of roasted barley, rye”. After seven years of reporting this product to FDA, it remains on store shelves. What follows are the nitty-gritty details. Initial correspondence with FDA Gluten Free Watchdog first made FDA aware of this product via email on January 10, 2014—over SEVEN years ago!FDA’s initial email response received January 17, 2014:“As far as the product, “Dandy Blend Instant Herbal Beverage”, we do not have enough information to be able to...

FOR FOOD MANUFACTURERS: SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT INGREDIENTS CONTAINING GLUTEN

During this period of food shortages and supply disruptions as a result of COVID-19, FDA is allowing manufacturers to make certain ingredient substitutions without changing the ingredients list. FDA stated in a letter to Gluten Free Watchdog that their COVID-19 food labeling flexibilities: "... are not to be used when they may pose a health or safety issue. This would include the introduction of an ingredient containing gluten. Substitutions, in any amount, are not appropriate without a corresponding label change...