"naturally Gluten Free"

[Coolclimates]

I was grocery shopping at Aldis the other day and noticed that some of the gluten-free products say "naturally gluten free food." Does it mean about the same thing as the "no gluten ingredients" labels? Or is it just another way of saying the product is gluten-free? They don't mention anything about whether the facility it's manufactured in shares any other allergens (although I know that this isn't required for food companies in the USA as of now).

[psawyer]

The claim that a food is "gluten-free" is acceptable if that is a distinguishing factor among other similar foods. To make the claim when all foods of that variety do not contain gluten is considered misleading by the FDA and by the CFIA.

A food is "naturally gluten free" if it is a single-ingredient product and is not based on a gluten-containing grain.

Potatoes are "naturally gluten free." So are carrots, milk, rice and peas. Literally what it means is than, like ALL products of that ilk, it is not from a gluten grain.

[Coolclimates]

psawyer, that's interesting that you brought up the single versus multi ingredient product. I notice the only ones that say "natually gluten free food" are single ingredient products like canned corn, butter, beans, etc. All the multi ingredient products say "gluten free" instead. So is Aldis being misleading when their single ingredient products have this "natually gluten free" on them? Or are they just stating the obvious (assuming there are no cross contamination issues, which aren't even brought up on these products at all)?

[psawyer]

They are stating what would be, to the in informed, obvious. An alternative wording, which is less common, is that "this XXX, like all XXX, is gluten-free."

Labeling a product "gluten-free" is considered misleading unless that is a distinguishing factor among other, similar foods.

[Lisa]

So is Aldis being misleading when their single ingredient products have this "natually gluten free" on them? Or are they just stating the obvious (assuming there are no cross contamination issues, which aren't even brought up on these products at all)?

NO, they are just jumping on the Gluten Free Band Wagon. It's money, it's marketing.

[Coolclimates]

Clever people!

[Lisa]

Clever people!

Yes, but we are smarter!