Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Food Labelling And Ingredients: Canada Vs. Usa

Mourning Dove

Recommended Posts

Mourning Dove Newbie
Mourning Dove
Posted

I recently came back from a vacation in the USA and I noticed that some products have labeling that actually says "gluten-free"....like margarine! I was so surprised by this honest labeling! If only this were the standard! Imagine how easy grocery shopping would be!

In all of my shopping in Canada, I have to go to a health-food store to see that phrase, with the exception of Chapman's ice cream. (Hurray for Chapmans!)

Now I'm wondering if there are differences between US foods and their Canadian counterparts. Could this be why it seems that am I seeing more "gluten-free" labeling in the USA? Do we just grow so much wheat here that nearly everything is contaminated? It remains a mystery to me why Canadian icing sugar is contaminated while US icing sugar is safe...is anyone able to enlighten me on this one?

Can someone direct me to a listing of foods that are safe in one country and not in the other?

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Canada has very strict rules about what can be labeled, or represented as, "gluten free." They cover what the product may contain, but also prohibit the use of the label on any product which is inherently gluten-free, such as margarine.

The US currently does not have a definition that is backed by law or regulation. Proposed regulations are being discussed, but are not in force. In the US, "gluten free" means whatever the company making the product wants it to mean.

Mourning Dove Newbie
Mourning Dove
Posted
  • Author
Canada has very strict rules about what can be labeled, or represented as, "gluten free." They cover what the product may contain, but also prohibit the use of the label on any product which is inherently gluten-free, such as margarine.

The US currently does not have a definition that is backed by law or regulation. Proposed regulations are being discussed, but are not in force. In the US, "gluten free" means whatever the company making the product wants it to mean.

If that's how Canada dictates how things are to be labelled, well, I'm not comfortable with that. Everything is so inconsistent...Ice cream can be gluten free...or not. Sorbet could be gluten-free...or not. Tomato sauce could be gluten free...or not. There's no particular purpose for there to be gluten in it, but there often is...and why? why? I'm so frustrated by this lack of consistency! Never the less, I thank you for this information.

Thanks for the heads up on the US labeling. I'll be extra cautious from now on.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

The rule in Canada is that if a product does not normally contain gluten, then you can not label your version of that product "gluten-free." That would be considered misleading, as it might imply that some similar products contain gluten.

As a result, fruits and vegetables, meats, milk, butter, margarine, and cheese, among other things, can not be labeled "gluten-free." It does not mean that they contain gluten, just that the producer cannot make a claim that they are gluten-free for marketing purposes.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      19

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      Yes, do take your B Complex with Benfotiamine or Thiamax. Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins in the B Complex to make energy and enzymes, so best to take them together earlier in your day. Taking them too close to bedtime can keep you too energetic to go to sleep. The Life Extension Benfotiamine with Thiamine is Benfotiamine and...
    2. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      19

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      I looked further into Thiamax Vitamin B1 by objective nutrients and read all the great reviews. I think I will give this a try. I noticed only possible side affect is possibly the first week so body adjusts. Life Extensions carries Benfotiamine with Thiamine and the mega one you mentioned. Not sure if both in one is better or seperate. some reviews state...
    3. olivia11
      - olivia11 replied to olivia11's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      suggest gluten free food

      Thanks I am mostly looking for everyday staples and easy meal ideas nothing too specialty if possible.
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Roses8721's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      There are other Celiac genes. HLA DQ 2 and HLA DQ 8 show up in people from Northern European descent. People of Mediterranean descent have HLA DQ 7. People of Asian descent have HLA DQ 9. There's other Indigenous populations that have other HLA genes that code for Celiac disease. Are you still having symptoms? What do...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      19

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      There are eight essential B vitamins. They are all water soluble. Any excess of B vitamins is easily excreted by the kidneys. Thiamine is Vitamin B 1. Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses. Benfotiamine and TTFD are forms of Thiamine that the body can utilize very easily. The form of Thiamine in the supplements you mentioned is...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,756
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    vickie343
    Newest Member
    vickie343
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, do take your B Complex with Benfotiamine or Thiamax.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins in the B Complex to make energy and enzymes, so best to take them together earlier in your day.  Taking them too close to bedtime can keep you too energetic to go to sleep.   The Life Extension Benfotiamine with Thiamine is Benfotiamine and Thiamine Hydrochloride, another form of thiamine the body likes.  The Thiamine HCl just helps the Benfotiamine work better.   Read the label for how many milligrams are in them.  The Mega Benfotiamine is 250 mgs.  Another Benfothiamine has 100 mgs.  You might want to start with the 100 mg.    I like to take Thiamax in the morning with a B Complex at breakfast.  I take the Benfotiamine with another meal.  You can take your multivitamin with Benfotiamine at lunch.   Add a magnesium supplement, too.  Thiamine needs magnesium to make some important enzymes.  Life Extension makes Neuro-Mag, Magnesium Threonate, which is really beneficial.  (Don't take Magnesium Oxide.  It's not absorbed well, instead it pulls water into the digestive tract and is used to relieve constipation.)  I'm not a big fan of multivitamins because they don't always dissolve well in our intestines, and give people a false sense of security.  (There's videos on how to test how well your multivitamin dissolves.).  Multivitamins don't prevent deficiencies and aren't strong enough to correct deficiencies.   I'm happy you are trying Thiamax and Benfotiamine!  Keep us posted on your progress!  I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.  
    • xxnonamexx
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      I looked further into Thiamax Vitamin B1 by objective nutrients and read all the great reviews. I think I will give this a try. I noticed only possible side affect is possibly the first week so body adjusts. Life Extensions carries Benfotiamine with Thiamine and the mega one you mentioned. Not sure if both in one is better or seperate. some reviews state a laxative affect as side affect. SHould I take with my super B complex or just these 2 and multivitamin? I will do further research but I appreciate the wonderful explanation you provided on Thiamine.
    • olivia11
      suggest gluten free food

      By olivia11 · Posted

      Thanks I am mostly looking for everyday staples and easy meal ideas nothing too specialty if possible.
    • knitty kitty
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      There are other Celiac genes. HLA DQ 2 and HLA DQ 8 show up in people from Northern European descent.   People of Mediterranean descent have HLA DQ 7.  People of Asian descent have HLA DQ 9.   There's other Indigenous populations that have other HLA genes that code for Celiac disease.   Are you still having symptoms?   What do you include in your diet?  Are you vegetarian? Are you taking any prescription medication?  Omeprazole?  Metformin?   Do you have anemia?  Thyroid problems? Are you taking any vitamins or herbal supplements?  
    • knitty kitty
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      There are eight essential B vitamins.  They are all water soluble.  Any excess of B vitamins is easily excreted by the kidneys.   Thiamine is Vitamin B 1.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Benfotiamine and TTFD are forms of Thiamine that the body can utilize very easily.   The form of Thiamine in the supplements you mentioned is Thiamine Mononitrate, a form that the body does not absorb well and does not utilize well.  Only about thirty percent of the amount on the label is actually absorbed in the small intestine.  Less than that can actually be used by the body.  Manufacturers add thiamine mononitrate to their products because it's cheap and shelf-stable.  Thiamine and other B vitamins break down when exposed to light and heat and over time.  Thiamine Mononitrate is a form that does not break down over time sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to buy them.  What makes Thiamine Mononitrate shelf stable makes it difficult for the body to turn into a useable form.  In fact, it takes more thiamine to turn it into a useable form.   Gastrointestinal Beriberi is a localized shortage of Thiamine in the gastrointestinal tract.  High carbohydrate meals can result in gastrointestinal symptoms of Gastric Beriberi.  Fiber is a type of carbohydrate.  So, high fiber/carbohydrate snacks could trigger Gastric Beriberi.   Since blood tests for Thiamine and other B vitamins are so inaccurate, the World Health Organization recommends trying Thiamine and looking for health improvement because it's safe and nontoxic.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.