Gluten-Free Labeling |

11 Jun

Why are consumers finding malt extract and malt flavor in the ingredients lists of GFCO certified gluten-free foods?

The issue:

During the month of May, three products were reported to Gluten Free Watchdog that were labeled gluten-free and included the certified gluten-free logo from GFCO on product packaging yet named either malt extract or malt flavor in the ingredients list.

Nothin’ But Foods Cinnamon Raisin Granola Cookie Bites
Know Allergies Blueberry and Maple Bars
Goodie Girl Toffee Crunch Cookies

According to GFCO and the manufacturers involved, the malt ingredients are not actually in the product but instead […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten-Free Labeling, Product Alerts 2 Comments Read more...

05 Jun

Is the FDA enforcing the gluten-free labeling rule?

Question: How many FDA food recalls have there been since January 1, 2016 and the reason/problem cited by the FDA is gluten?

Answer: Two

A search under “gluten” on FDA’s “Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts” page resulted in the following:

May 3, 2018: Van’s Waffles: Product may contain gluten and undeclared milk https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm606033.htm. This product is labeled gluten-free
September 1, 2016: Koi Palace Mooncakes: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm518878.htm. It is unclear whether this product was labeled gluten-free at the time of the recall.

How […]

23 Apr

KoJa Kitchen Restaurant Says Wheat-Based Soy Sauce is Gluten-Free: Is it?

April 23, 2018

Gluten Free Watchdog has been informed of yet another restaurant chain representing wheat-based soy sauce as gluten-free. The restaurant is KoJa Kitchen and they have an online schematic explaining how their soy sauce marinade is gluten-free. See http://www.kojakitchen.com/gluten-free. The trouble is, according to the Food and Drug Administration restaurants should NOT be representing their wheat-based soy sauce as gluten-free.

What follows are a few reminders about soy sauce. Please take the time to read this information carefully. […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten Contamination of Food, Gluten-Free Labeling 1 Comment Read more...

16 Apr

Letter to Restaurant Managers: Do not use wheat-based soy sauce in foods represented as gluten-free

At Gluten Free Watchdog we have received a number of complaints about restaurants in the US using wheat-based soy sauce in sauces and meals represented as gluten-free. When eating at a restaurant, please ask whether a sauce contains soy sauce & whether the soy sauce contains wheat. Please also share this letter with restaurant managers. A pdf is available for download GFWDRestaurantLetterSoySauce

……….

Dear manager,

It has come to our attention that some restaurants are mistakenly representing soy sauce made from wheat as gluten-free. […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten-Free Labeling 1 Comment Read more...

06 Feb

17 Misbranded Products Discovered in Circulation in 2017: Supplement to FDA Citizen Petition to Stop Labeling Violations Under the Gluten-Free Labeling Rule

On Sunday January 14, Kaki and I submitted a supplement to our FDA citizen petition requesting that the FDA establish a specific protocol for increased surveillance, investigation and enforcement of potential facial misbranding violations under the gluten-free labeling rule.

The supplement has not yet posted to the docket so we are posting it here for your information. Please take the time to read this supplement paying particular attention to page 3 and the listing of 17 misbranded products discovered in […]

By Tricia Thompson FDA Action Alerts, Gluten-Free Labeling 2 Comments Read more...

07 Jan

Urgent Product Warning for Jane Bakes Cookies

At least two varieties of the brand Jane Bakes cookies are labeled gluten-free yet list whole wheat flour as the first ingredient—Hazelnut & Chocolate and Coconut & Caramel. If you currently have any variety of labeled gluten-free cookies from this manufacturer in your pantry, please read the ingredients list carefully before eating.

A consumer first notified Gluten Free Watchdog about this product on December 26th. The cookies were a gift to the consumer. The person purchasing the cookies relied on […]

By Tricia Thompson FDA Action Alerts, Gluten-Free Labeling 1 Comment Read more...

09 Oct

Make no mistake about it: Wheat-based soy sauce is NOT allowed in foods labeled gluten-free

October 9, 2017

Bottom Line: Neither the FDA nor the USDA allows soy sauce made using wheat to be labeled gluten-free. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

If you are a consumer or a manufacturer and you continue to have doubts about the veracity of the above bottom line statement, please read the communication from the USDA to me pasted below. I contacted the agency after Scott of the blog Gluten Dude posted about a jerky product* labeled […]

By Tricia Thompson Gluten-Free Labeling 0 Comments Read more...

28 May

Ten Fast Facts about Allergen Advisory Statements for Wheat & Gluten-Free Foods

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 (#28)…

An allergen advisory statement for wheat:

Refers to manufacturer processing practices, such as the use of a shared facility, shared production line, or shared equipment
May appear on a label as “made in a facility that produces wheat” or “manufactured on equipment […]

By Tricia Thompson Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Gluten-Free Labeling 0 Comments Read more...

24 May

Why distillation is compatible with a gluten-free diet

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., […]

By Tricia Thompson Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Gluten-Free Beer, Gluten-Free Diet, Gluten-Free Labeling, Gluten-Free Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages 22 Comments Read more...

22 May

Restaurants and Gluten-Free Menu Claims

Post (#22)…

When the FDA’s gluten-free labeling rule was finalized in 2013 there was a lot of confusion around whether restaurants were included under this rule. It didn’t help matters that the FDA was a bit slow in providing a definitive answer.

With a lot […]

By Tricia Thompson Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Gluten-Free Diet, Gluten-Free Labeling 2 Comments Read more...