Reading Labels In The UK

[AlysounRI]

Hi All:

How does one read a label in the UK.

I do eat out in the UK (mostly Indian and Turkish) but I also stay with friend and cook for them.

What are the labelling laws regarding wheat in the UK?

Do they have to declare it?

Thanks for your answers!

[irish daveyboy]

Hi All:

How does one read a label in the UK.

I do eat out in the UK (mostly Indian and Turkish) but I also stay with friend and cook for them.

What are the labelling laws regarding wheat in the UK?

Do they have to declare it?

Thanks for your answers!

Yes wheat is declared in the ingredients and unlike the USA must list Barley, Spelt, Rye, Oats or Tricale.

Plus they may have a alert box which could say 'may contain traces of' or 'manufactured in a facility which also handles'

.

Products that state gluten-free contain less than 20PPM of contaminant (0 PPM is impossible to test for)

Even though the limit is <20PPM the products may in fact register no traceable gluten (lowest test levels currently = 5PPM)

The term suitable fot Coeliacs refers to the previous allowable level <200PPM.

Codex Legislation reguires that Europe and the US + Canada adopt the new Codex level of <20PPM gluten-free suitable for most Coeliacs and <100PPM Very Low Gluten suitable for some Coeliacs.

ALWAYS Read the ingredients list as these can change due to re-formulation.

Best Regards,

David

[AlysounRI]

Thank you David.

I stay with friends who don't like to cook and so I am more than happy to cook for them.

I usually take care of the grocery shopping when I do because, well, it's always the best thing to be a good and generous house guest.

When I am next at a Tescos or a Sainsburys I will look out for the packaging labels.

What a great thing to mention barley, rye, oats, spelt and triticale as well.

Much more progressive than we are here in the US.

Your reply is most appreciated,

~Allison

[India]

I'm not so sure about Tesco but Sainsbury's are very good about labelling their own products for both ingredients and potential cross-contamination. I noticed in the US that store brands seem to be considered inferior but UK supermarket own brand products are pretty good quality.

[AlysounRI]

I'm not so sure about Tesco but Sainsbury's are very good about labelling their own products for both ingredients and potential cross-contamination. I noticed in the US that store brands seem to be considered inferior but UK supermarket own brand products are pretty good quality.

Thank you India.

Most ingredients I cook with are inherently gluten-free and that is the way that I cook when I am with friends in the UK.

But for other stuff I am curious and concerned.

Tescos and Sainsburys seem to be comporable in most things, so I will check out what is nearer to me.

Your labelling practices seem to be years ahead of us.

Thank you for your reply,

~Allison