Comment from Gluten Free Watchdog to FDA on the use of barley malt in foods labeled gluten-free

Comment from Gluten Free Watchdog to FDA on the use of barley malt in foods labeled gluten-free

Comments submitted by Tricia Thompson, MS, RD

Founder, Gluten Free Watchdog, LLC

In response to Docket Number FDA-2014-N-1021

 

Email: tricia_s_thompson@hotmail.com

Web: www.glutenfreewatchdog.org

 

Dear FDA,

This letter is an addendum to comment ID: FDA-2014-N-1021-0067

In our previous comment (FDA-2014-N-1021-0067) we wrote:

“Can FDA also please clarify the Agency’s position on the use of barley malt and barley malt extract in foods labeled gluten-free? Both of these ingredients contain hydrolyzed gluten protein. FDA has advised me via email correspondence that FDA considers malt extract an “ingredient not processed to remove gluten.” The Agency has also stated during a webinar to the Medical Nutrition Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on March 12, 2014 that,

“Malt is a product of barley germinated under controlled conditions. Malt syrup and malt extract are interchangeable terms for a viscous concentrate of water extract of germinated barley with or without the preservative. Malt syrup is usually a brown and viscous liquid containing varying amounts of amylolytic enzymes with plant constituents. So if malt syrup or malt extract are further processed in some way to remove proteins we believe that would change its nature to such an extent and alter the characteristics of the ingredient so that they would no longer bear the same common or usual name. Malt extract and malt syrup are ingredients derived from gluten containing grains and containing gluten therefore we would consider them as ingredients not processed to remove gluten and they would not be permitted in foods bearing the claim gluten-free.”

Nonetheless, there continue to be products sold in the US, especially products imported from Europe that are labeled gluten-free yet contain barley malt or barley malt extract.”

Foods labeled gluten-free yet containing barley malt ingredients

During the first two months of 2016, Gluten Free Watchdog has dealt directly with six manufacturers of foods labeled gluten-free containing malt ingredients from barley. After many hours of phone conversations and email correspondence all six manufacturers agreed to either remove the gluten-free claim from product packaging or remove the barley malt ingredient from the product. For detailed information on each of these products, see https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/foods-labeled-gluten-free-yet-containing-barley-malt-ingredients/

Code of Federal Regulation definitions for malt and malt extract

Malt: According to 21CFR184.1443a, “malt is an enzyme preparation obtained from barley which has been softened by a series of steeping operations and germinated under controlled conditions. It is a brown, sweet, and viscous liquid or a white to tan powder. Its characterizing enzyme activities are [alpha]-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1.) and [beta]-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2).” See http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1443a&SearchTerm=malt

Malt extract/malt syrup: According to 21CFR184.1445, “Malt syrup and malt extract are interchangeable terms for a viscous concentrate of water extract of germinated barley grain, with or without added safe preservative. Malt syrup is usually a brown, sweet, and viscous liquid containing varying amounts of amylolytic enzymes and plant constituents. Barley is first softened after cleaning by steeping operations and then allowed to germinate under controlled conditions. The germinated grain then undergoes processing, such as drying, grinding, extracting, filtering, and evaporating, to produce malt syrup (malt extract) with 75 to 80 percent solids or dried malt syrup with higher solids content.” See https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1445

In other words, by definition, the ingredients “malt,” “malt extract,” and “malt syrup” when used in an ingredients list mean “barley malt,” “barley malt extract,” and “barley malt syrup.”

FDA document, “Questions and Answers: Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule” (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Allergens/ucm362880.htm)

In this Q&A document, the Agency writes the following under compliance:

  1. How will FDA check that food manufacturers labeling their foods gluten-free comply with the requirements of the final rule?
    The agency will use the full range of its routine post-market monitoring activities to enforce the final rule on gluten-free food labeling. These activities include sampling, periodic inspections of food manufacturing facilities; food label reviews; follow-up on consumer and industry complaints reported to the agency; and when needed, gluten analyses of food samples.

Please note the inclusion of “food label reviews” in the above paragraph.

Foods labeled gluten-free containing barley malt ingredients not removed from store shelves?

Based on records of email correspondence, Gluten Free Watchdog first notified our regional FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator about a certain potato chip product on March 11, 2015. These chips are labeled gluten-free yet contain as an ingredient “barley malt extract powder.” On May 14, 2015 (after GFWD contacted FDA a second time about this product), FDA responded that the information provided was being taken as a formal complaint.

In early 2016, Gluten Free Watchdog continued to receive additional consumer complaints about this product. This product was still on store shelves months after this chip was first reported to FDA.

Note: Gluten Free Watchdog reached out to the chip manufacturer directly. The manufacturer is removing the gluten-free claim from the chip flavors containing barley malt ingredients.

Concerns

FDA has repeatedly stated in verbal and written correspondence that malt and malt extract as defined in the CFR are not allowed in foods labeled gluten-free. FDA has stated in a Q&A that food label reviews are one of many activities that may be used to enforce the gluten-free labeling rule. It is curious then why foods labeled gluten-free yet containing malt and malt extract from barley are allowed to remain on store shelves months after the Agency is notified of such products.

The manufacturers we corresponded with are not trying to purposefully add an ingredient to a food labeled gluten-free that is not allowed. Without exception they all believe that the products in question are in compliance because the final food product contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten based on testing using the sandwich R5 ELISA.

It would be exceedingly helpful to manufacturers and consumers if the FDA could clearly and unambiguously state in a Q&A the Agency’s position on the use of malt and malt extract as defined in the CFR in foods labeled gluten-free. It would also be helpful if the FDA could clarify the Agency’s protocol for addressing food products labeled gluten-free yet containing ingredients not allowed.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tricia Thompson, MS, RD

Founder, Gluten Free Watchdog, LLC

 

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Comments (6)

  • ANTHONY COLATRELLA Reply

    As usual GREAT post to FDA—-is anybody there reading all of your posts?—-always, all pertinent points-so well documented and supported; makes one wonder—what is taking so long for FDA to act on your comments—seems so straightforward and rational—-maybe that is the problem! You should add BULLDOG to name of your organization along with WATCHDOG—you have the tenacity of a bulldog! Maybe I am misinterpreting the FDA statement when they say– they consider malt extract to be an ingredient NOT processed to remove gluten and yet say it cannot be considered gluten free–I agree with the last part, but I would say malt extract (like wheat starch) is indeed an ingredient which was processed in an attempt to remove gluten—or am I crazy? TONY C.

    March 14, 2016 at 9:52 pm
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      You have a point Tony. I am thinking out loud here and may correct this statement as I think more about it but… If you think of wheat starch as being “washed” from wheat flour to separate the protein (gluten) and starch portions it is similar to barley malt extract being the water extract of barley malt. BUT malt extract/malt syrup contains protein (and so does wheat starch). In addition look at the ingredients and test results for Dandy Blend. But again, I see your point–the process of making barley malt extract appears to concentrate the carbohydrate portion of barley malt.

      March 15, 2016 at 1:22 pm
  • Ashley Reply

    What about malt vinegar flavor in Old Dutch Crunch Salt and Vinegar chips. They are labeled gluten free.

    April 14, 2016 at 2:51 am
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      There is no CFR or CPG for “malt vinegar flavor.” An actual barley malt ingredient may or may not be included in this flavoring. My recommendation is to contact the manufacturer and ask if barley malt, barley malt extract, barley malt syrup, or barley malt vinegar is used to make the malt vinegar flavor in this chip. Please report back to us.

      April 14, 2016 at 12:57 pm
  • Cindy Crosson Reply

    Hello , what a wonderful website please, please, sign me up , I’m interested in anything I can read more and more each day, I’m celiac disease and soy free and dairy free and a whole bunch more food allergies to long of a list to write down, I’ve been like this gluten free , soy free for at least 12 plus years now I have reaction to nuts , dairy,tomatoes etc,since the first of the year 2024, I can go on and on , and shame on these people who say gluten free and etc on the ingredients and they have other stuff in the food products, I’m very unhappy with our stupid Government who go along with this, I’m so sad I can’t have anything I would love to eat again, I don’t only have tummy issues but it goes right to my bladder, five days ago I had a can of gluten free soy free dairy free soup and I’m suffering with a stomach bug and bladder infection so badly, nothing is safe to eat anymore I hate to even eat anything anymore, God is good he’s getting me to feel better thanks , Cindy

    September 23, 2024 at 4:28 pm
    • Tricia Thompson Reply

      Hi Cindy, Thanks for your kind words about the website. You can subscribe to the blog on the newsletter page. Scroll down the page looking at the right side column for the heading “Subscribe to the blog via email.”

      September 23, 2024 at 6:09 pm

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