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 the appropriate public health experts at the FDA and allow for more consistent processing and earlier detection of potential public health problems.”
At the time, we wrote: “This is a step in the right direction. We won’t be holding our breath that issues with gluten-free foods will be investigated with increased urgency, but hope springs eternal.”
Based on a search of the FDA’s pages: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts and Enforcement Reports, no public-facing enforcement actions have been taken against any of the manufacturers of the products reported to the FDA by Gluten Free Watchdog going back to October 1, 2024. Five representative product complaints are discussed in the attached pdf. Please see: FacialMisbrandingBarleyIngredients2024:2025PublicPostingGFWD.
Comments (3)
It appears that the FDA is not very efficient or lacking in interest to cite these offending companies. It does not surprise me, as it has been my experience lately that more and more grocery stores are eliminating gluten-free products. It must not be cost-effective to offer gluten-free products . I am not able to find certain breads and cookies which I was able to purchase a year ago. Some of the stores where I have made inquiries about gluten-free products do not even know about these items!! We need much more global information conveyed about celiac disease.
Who could I contact to insist that the FDA do more regulations of companies, enforcing them to be honest and knowledgeable about the ingredients in their products?
Good morning. One of the most important steps you can take is to file a complaint with the FDA whenever you come across a labeled gluten-free product that is misbranded (i.e., includes an ingredient not allowed in foods labeled gluten-free). Complaints are then on record and can be accessed when a FOIA request is made. Please see https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/how-to-file-a-gluten-free-food-complaint-with-the-fda-starting-october-1-2024-the-process-has-changed/
Tricia, Thank you for everything. This is confounding, albeit trending right. They have new reporting, but what are they doing with the info? We are not safe with assuming anything as celiacs. I think we can guess why no one is investigating the reports you provided. I’ve decided to give up on oats, or eating any packaged snack foods. Fortunately, I’m a scratch cook and rarely eat out, but not everyone can do that.
Your work is deeply appreciated.