Food Labeling

[Sarah J.]

All,

It is so difficult for a celiac to live in the USA!! I come from Australia, and there the labeling laws mean that you know INSTANTLY if a product contains gluten. They can't just say "natural flavorings" or "dextrose", they have to label what the ingredient is derived from.

Therefore, if a label does not say the words "wheat", "oats", "rye", "barley", "malt" or "gluten", you can be 100% positive that the item is gluten free. No more looking up products online, no more calls to the manufacturers, no more uncertainty - like being normal. Ahh I miss it!

Even with the new laws here, from my understanding, it seems that only wheat will be labeled. That is no good whatsoever if the other gluten sources are not labeled.

Best of luck over here!

Sarah.

[mushroom]

Even NZ needs to learn from Oz. I was in the market yesterday (a private one, not one of the big chains) where I have never purchased ham. I looked at their packaged sliced ham, and the ingredients included "thickener". The butcher happened to be stocking the counter and I asked what the thickener was. He asked if I were a celiac and then said, "Well, I wouldn't eat that." So WTH?? I thought at least wheat here had to be labelled. Now they are just calling it "thickener".!!!!! He did steer me in the direction of some gluten free sauces so there is some awareness, but this is not good enough.

[nutralady2001]

Also here to be labelled gluten-free the product must contain <5 ppm gluten (although I'm a zero gluten girl)

Not sure of the ratio in the USA but think it's <200 ppm

[psawyer]

Not sure of the ratio in the USA but think it's <200 ppm

In the USA, this is still under discussion, but it looks like <20 ppm is where it will end up. The unfortunate thing for consumers is that, as long as this is unclear, many manufacturers are reluctant to put "gluten-free" on a label--some who used to have it have removed it. In the meantime, there is no regulatory definition of "gluten-free" in the USA.

In Canada, there are strict rules. They are so strict that many products that are, in fact, gluten-free can not legally be labeled as such.

[mushroom]

Also here to be labelled gluten-free the product must contain <5 ppm gluten (although I'm a zero gluten girl)

Not sure of the ratio in the USA but think it's <200 ppm

No, no, at the moment I think it is 20, but that may change.

[nutralady2001]

Oh OK thanks for that............ have seen a couple of numbers tossed around and was a little confused

[Lisa]

This might help you with some questions:

Open Original Shared Link

[lainey461]

size="3"]^{Hello all! I am new to this, and I was wondering if there is a list of ingredients, that don't actually say, gluten, wheat, rye, or barley, that we should watch out for? I was doing pretty good with just eating the basics, broiled chicken, potatoes, and rice. Yesterday I had some barbecue sauce on the chicken for dinner, and had an episode during the night. So I was wondering if there is a list?}

^{Thank you for any help you can provide!}

^{Kind Regards, Elaine}

[Lisa]

size="3"]^{Hello all! I am new to this, and I was wondering if there is a list of ingredients, that don't actually say, gluten, wheat, rye, or barley, that we should watch out for? I was doing pretty good with just eating the basics, broiled chicken, potatoes, and rice. Yesterday I had some barbecue sauce on the chicken for dinner, and had an episode during the night. So I was wondering if there is a list?}

^{Thank you for any help you can provide!}

^{Kind Regards, Elaine}

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Safe-Glut...3B-Ingredients/

[lainey461]

Thank you so much! Another quick question if I may? I have read many posts about gluten free shampoos, lotions, make up, does the gluten actually penetrate the skin, and cause harm? Thanks so much!

[mushroom]

Thank you so much! Another quick question if I may? I have read many posts about gluten free shampoos, lotions, make up, does the gluten actually penetrate the skin, and cause harm? Thanks so much!

As you seem to have seen, this has been a topic of hot debate. Some don't bother about gluten in things unless it is likely to get in their mouths (chap stick, lipstick, etc.); others get topical reactions (DH) from gluten containing products, some do think it can be absorbed through the skin. I am a fence sitter on this one. I choose to avoid those that contain gluten because better safe than sorry. And I think of the medications that are delivered through the skin and I don't know enough about the sizes of molecules that can pass through the dermis, and stuff like that. Besides, if you get it on your hands you could easily forget to wash your hands after applying (e.g.) lotion, and if it were hand lotion that would kinda defeat the purpose.

[lainey461]

Thank you for your reply! So in other words, it's best to stay away from any gluten containing products, till you see how you react? I was reading the dog food, and treats, all have wheat listed as the first ingredient! Start wearing plastic gloves, or do a lot of hand washing!