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29 Oct 2020

TTB Updated Ruling: Gluten Content Statements in the Labeling and Advertising of Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax, and Trade Bureau recently updated its policy on gluten content statements on labels of wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages (e.g., beers) in response to FDA’s 2020 rule on gluten-free labeling of fermented and hydrolyzed foods. To read the ruling in full see https://www.ttb.gov/rulings/r2020-2. In brief: 1. TTB will allow gluten-free claims on spirits distilled from gluten-containing grains. Details: “TTB will permit “gluten-free” claims on distilled spirits products distilled from gluten-containing grains as long as good manufacturing practices are followed...
By Gluten-Free Beer, Gluten-Free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages4 CommentsRead more...
08 Mar 2019

When beer “crafted to remove gluten” is wrongly advertised as “gluten-free”: How to report to the TTB

If you come across a bottled malt beverage in the US market that has been “crafted to remove gluten” (e.g., made using malted barley but treated with an enzyme) yet is represented in advertisements from the brewer as “gluten-free” please email the TTB market compliance division at Market.Compliance@ttb.gov. Photos representing the issue are useful to include. The regulation of beer is not straightforward. What follows is a primer that hopefully makes a complicated topic easier to understand. Please read it carefully. When...
By Barley Contamination, Gluten-Free Beer, Gluten-Free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages1 CommentRead more...
11 Jun 2018

Reminder: “Gluten-Removed” Malt Beverages can be Labeled “Gluten-Free” in the State of Oregon

A consumer recently contacted Gluten Free Watchdog about Walkabout GFA (gluten-free ale) from Walkabout Brewing Co. The beer is labeled gluten-free and includes the following statement on the label, “Walkabout GFA is brewed with malted barley and hops specially crafted to be gluten-free.” Consumer question: Is this legal? Answer: Yes, in the state of Oregon (this product is also labeled, “for sale in Oregon only”). Bottom Line: The TTB regulates malt beverages made using both malted barley and hops (e.g., what we think...
By Barley Contamination, Gluten-Free Beer, Gluten-Free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages0 CommentsRead more...
24 May 2017

Why distillation is compatible with a gluten-free diet

In Honor of Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Gluten Free Watchdog is writing a series of articles (the goal is one per day during the month of May) related to the gluten-free diet–currently the ONLY treatment for celiac disease. Post (#24)… Astute readers of gluten-free labeling rules may have noticed that the FDA and the TTB treat distilled alcohol differently. On the one hand, the FDA allows distilled alcohol and distilled vinegar as ingredients in foods labeled gluten-free regardless of the starting material (e.g., vanilla...
By Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Gluten-Free Beer, Gluten-Free Diet, Gluten-Free Labeling, Gluten-Free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages31 CommentsRead more...
01 Jan 2014

Can Individuals with Celiac Disease Drink Barley-Based “Gluten-Removed” Beers such as Omission? A Gluten Free Watchdog Special Report

To write this report on the safety of of barley-based gluten-removed beers, Gluten Free Watchdog consulted with experts in mass spectrometry, ELISA testing, and amino acid sequencing of gluten proteins. We are very grateful that they generously shared their knowledge so that this information could be passed along to you. To access a pdf of the report please click here.
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12 Jul 2013

Omission Beer: The controversy over gluten-free labeling of malt-based beverages continues

Update July 12, 2013. I don't know about all of you but I am getting a little fatigued from the beer “issue.” BUT … Last evening I was forwarded some documents related to Craft Brew Alliance (Omission). According to the email included with these documents they are not considered confidential and will be in the public domain soon (when they are, I will post the links). When I have more information regarding how the scientific community views the information contained in these...
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06 Jan 2012

Health Day Article on Gluten-Free Beer

Over the Holidays you may have come across the Health Day article entitled, “Some Gluten-Free Beers Really Aren't: Study.” This is an unfortunate title that has led to some confusion. The article is available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_120196.html The study behind the article Colgrave ML, Goswami H, Howitt CA, Tanner GJ. What is in a beer? Proteomic characterization and relative quantification of hordein (gluten) in beer. J Proteome Research. October 2011. The study is available at: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/pr2008434 Study authors tested three types of beer: regular...
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