Celiac.com 11/09/2017 - Did you know that the precautionary labeling regarding allergies is widely misunderstood, (meaning you are not the only one that is confused!). Not only is the writing so small you need a microscope to read it, this warning is not necessarily listed in the "Ingredients" column.
The United States and Canada have different laws concerning allergy labeling. A survey presented in March at the AAAAI Allergists' Conference in Los Angeles reveals that 40 percent of consumers avoiding one or more allergens bought foods manufactured in a facility that also processes allergens.
Beyond buying habits the researchers also found a lack of awareness of labeling. Another problem occurs with differences in the food laws of our two countries, the United States and Canada. 4...

Celiac.com 12/06/2018 - The growing popularity of gluten-free foods has led to numerous new products for consumers, but it has also led to some problems. One recent study showed that up to one-third of foods sold as gluten-free contain gluten above 20ppm allowed by federal law. Other studies have shown that restaurant food labeled as “gluten-free” is often contaminated with gluten.
The problem of gluten in commercial food labeled gluten-free is not isolated to the United States. Recent studies abroad show that the problem exists in nearly every gluten-free market in every country.
In Australia, for example, researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne found detectable gluten in almost 3% of 256 commonly purchased “gluten-free” manufactured foods, a study ...

Celiac.com 07/26/2019 - The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is a support group that advocates for the food and non-alcoholic drink manufacturing industry, and certain food sectors in the UK. Seeking to provide clarity for consumers and consistency for manufacturers over gluten labeling, the FDF recently issued a set of product labeling guidelines called the Gluten Labeling Guidance: Best Practice for Pre-packed Foods which Include or Exclude Cereals Containing Gluten. 
The FDF guidelines address various labeling scenarios, with special attention to oat and wheat types. The guidelines include information about the differences between celiac disease and cereal allergy, advice on precautionary allergen labeling, and flow charts for making claims about gluten absence in a given product. Th...

Celiac.com 06/16/2022 - The odyssey began four years ago with a one-page bill authored by New York Representative Nita Lowey. It ended on August 2, 2004, when President Bush signed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) into law.
There have been many questions about when the new law goes into effect, and what it will mean for individuals with celiac disease. Beginning on January 1, 2006, food labels will be required to list the top eight food allergens. This date was the earliest that the law could go into effect. In order to minimize the burden on business, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets periodic effective dates timed in two year cycles. This date also coincides with the labeling changes required for trans-fats.
The top eight allergens...