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

Gluten-Free in Canada

psawyer

Recommended Posts

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Sadly, in Canada the term "Gluten Free" is not regulated.

That isn't true. There are strict rules, but they only pertain to intentionally included ingredients derived from gluten grains.

Here is the applicable Canadian regulation.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


eat2much Newbie
eat2much
Posted

That isn't true. There are strict rules, but they only pertain to intentionally included ingredients derived from gluten grains.

Here is the applicable Canadian regulation.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

My bad! What I meant was your corner bakery can make things with rice flour using the same bowls, mixers, and ovens as their wheat products and still call them "gluten free". The food does not contain wheat as an ingredient but is more than likely cross contaminated.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
  • Author

If they don't take proper precautions, and therefore know that the product is contaminated, then it would be a violation of the rule to represent it as gluten-free.

eat2much Newbie
eat2much
Posted

If they don't take proper precautions, and therefore know that the product is contaminated, then it would be a violation of the rule to represent it as gluten-free.

Sadly, most local bakeries and restaurants (I'm only talking about Montreal) just don't understand the difference. They think that because they make something with rice or corn flour, etc. that the product is magically gluten free. That is why I always ask, if for no other reason than to let them know there is a big difference between "no wheat" and "gluten free" and to help them realize that people can get very sick as a result.

  • 4 weeks later...
123glldd Collaborator
123glldd
Posted

So is zero 8 confirmed to be okay though? We're going up then flying to newfoundland next week but when we get back we're gonna head to ottawa before driving home. We're gonna want supper haha

Mateto Enthusiast
Mateto
Posted

So is zero 8 confirmed to be okay though? We're going up then flying to newfoundland next week but when we get back we're gonna head to ottawa before driving home. We're gonna want supper haha

Newfoundland? It's currently Rain, Drizzle, Fog, and rain, with a chance of flurries :P

Actually on August 4th, items in Canada that are gluten-free will indeed be labelled, or rather, things which contain "gluten" will be labelled as part of the new Allergen & Gluten Labelling Law.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
  • Author

Actually on August 4th, items in Canada that are gluten-free will indeed be labelled, or rather, things which contain "gluten" will be labelled as part of the new Allergen & Gluten Labelling Law.

Which improves on what is already a better set of rules than in the US. We have a definition of "gluten-free" and wheat must already be disclosed as a priority allergen. We have no exemption for "highly refined oils"--the loophole that allows soybean oil to be labelled in the US as "vegetable oil" without disclosing soy as the source.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


123glldd Collaborator
123glldd
Posted

Newfoundland? It's currently Rain, Drizzle, Fog, and rain, with a chance of flurries :P

Actually on August 4th, items in Canada that are gluten-free will indeed be labelled, or rather, things which contain "gluten" will be labelled as part of the new Allergen & Gluten Labelling Law.

Haha yes I am from newfoundland..sounds like home to me! I am anticipating needing sweaters lol I'll be prepared :D

So now everything containing gluten will have gluten in the ingredient label plain as day?

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
  • Author

So is zero 8 confirmed to be okay though? We're going up then flying to newfoundland next week but when we get back we're gonna head to ottawa before driving home. We're gonna want supper haha

Krista, what do you mean by "zero 8"? It is not a term that I recognize.

123glldd Collaborator
123glldd
Posted

Which improves on what is already a better set of rules than in the US. We have a definition of "gluten-free" and wheat must already be disclosed as a priority allergen. We have no exemption for "highly refined oils"--the loophole that allows soybean oil to be labelled in the US as "vegetable oil" without disclosing soy as the source.

Sadly we went to the grocery store one day intending to buy vegetable oil and looking on the back everything said soybean. Could not find one that was labelled vegetable oil that wasn't soy oil. So we went with canola. I also use Olive oil. But it was really annoying to see after finding out i am hypothyroid and should stay away from soy *sighs*.

123glldd Collaborator
123glldd
Posted

Krista, what do you mean by "zero 8"? It is not a term that I recognize.

The restaurant mentioned in this thread-

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
  • Author

The restaurant mentioned in this thread-

If they label it gluten-free, it probably is safe. There is a strict rule in Canada about claiming something is gluten-free, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will take enforcement action if suitable practices are not being taken to avoid cross-contamination. However, there is never any absolute guarantee.

Here is the applicable Canadian regulation.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

Under this rule, gluten-free means gluten-free. It even goes so far as to say that selling "gluten-free oats" is illegal in Canada. It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled.

Pac Apprentice
Pac
Posted

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

Under this rule, gluten-free means gluten-free. It even goes so far as to say that selling "gluten-free oats" is illegal in Canada. It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled.

Does that mean that all the "safe" dextrose and glucose-fructose syrup and such have to be labeled as wheat derived as well? That would be great.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
  • Author
It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled.

Does that mean that all the "safe" dextrose and glucose-fructose syrup and such have to be labeled as wheat derived as well? That would be great.

Yes, it means that although dextrose, maltodextrin, glucose-fructose syrup and some other refined ingredients derived from wheat contain no detectable gluten using tests sensitive to 3 ppm, and those ingredients are typically a very small percentage of the final product, it can not be labelled gluten-free in Canada.

A different regulation deals with allergy disclosure, and it currently considers wheat a "priority allergen," whose presence must be disclosed. In addition to the the FALCPA "top eight" allergens recognized in the US, Canada currently includes sesame seeds and sulphites. As of August this year, the other gluten grains (barley, rye and oats) will be added to the priority allergen list, along with mustard seeds.

Mateto Enthusiast
Mateto
Posted

Haha yes I am from newfoundland..sounds like home to me! I am anticipating needing sweaters lol I'll be prepared :D

So now everything containing gluten will have gluten in the ingredient label plain as day?

Yeee!

You'll find of us everywhere b'y!

Yes the labelling will be rather clear I read, which is good good good.

The UK has a law similar to this, and we're going in those footsteps, which is needed.

123glldd Collaborator
123glldd
Posted

Yeee!

You'll find of us everywhere b'y!

Yes the labelling will be rather clear I read, which is good good good.

The UK has a law similar to this, and we're going in those footsteps, which is needed.

hahahaha Yes b'y we're like a plague taking over the planet! ;D Almost anywhere you go you can run into another Newfoundlander haha ;D

But that's certainly awesome news about the labeling. I guess the trip after this one it will probably be implemented! Right now I'm worried about finding products i know are safe down here...going home on my visit and finding the same product and it turning out it's not gluten free.

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. chrisinpa
      - chrisinpa commented on Scott Adams's article in Skin Problems and Celiac Disease
      2

      Celiac Disease and Skin Disorders: Exploring a Genetic Connection

      Maybe they can attribute certain skin conditions to either being susceptible to getting Celiac......or the other way around....but I have to ask if certain people are prone to Celiac because of genetics and some people aren't. It's kind of the same thing as what came first.....the chicken or the egg.?
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      @xxnonamexx, There's labeling on those Trubar gluten free high fiber protein bars that say: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, soy, fish, WHEAT, sesame, and other tree nuts." You may want to avoid products made in shared facilities. If you are trying to add more fiber to your diet to ease constipation, considering...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to sha1091a's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Issues before diagnosis

      Welcome to celiac.com @sha1091a! Your experience is a very common one. Celiac disease is one the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical conditions out there. The reasons are numerous. One key one is that its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Another is ignorance on the part of the medical community with regard to the range of symptoms that celiac...
    4. trents
      - trents commented on Jefferson Adams's article in Other Diseases and Disorders Associated with Celiac Disease
      6

      Celiac Disease Patients Face Higher Risk of Systemic Lupus

      What kind of practitioner did the blood test? Was this a medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor, a GI doc? I would certainly follow up with them and ask why they advised you not to eat red meat. I mean, it could be something like they, themselves, are a vegetarian and give that advice to everyone. Have you had an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to EndlessSummer's topic in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut
      2

      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      @EndlessSummer, You said you had an allergy to trees. People with Birch Allergy can react to green beans (in the legume family) and other vegetables, as well as some fruits. Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome which can occur at a higher rate in Celiac Disease. Switching to a low histamine diet for a while can give your body time to rid itself of...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,689
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    EndlessSummer
    Newest Member
    EndlessSummer
    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

      @xxnonamexx, There's labeling on those Trubar gluten free high fiber protein bars that say: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, soy, fish, WHEAT, sesame, and other tree nuts." You may want to avoid products made in shared facilities.   If you are trying to add more fiber to your diet to ease constipation, considering eating more leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.  Not only are these high in fiber, they also are good sources of magnesium.  Many newly diagnosed are low in magnesium and B vitamins and suffer with constipation.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 and magnesium work together.  Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Thiamine and magnesium are important to gastrointestinal health and function.  
    • trents
      Issues before diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to celiac.com @sha1091a! Your experience is a very common one. Celiac disease is one the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical conditions out there. The reasons are numerous. One key one is that its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Another is ignorance on the part of the medical community with regard to the range of symptoms that celiac disease can produce. Clinicians often are only looking for classic GI symptoms and are unaware of the many other subsystems in the body that can be damaged before classic GI symptoms manifest, if ever they do. Many celiacs are of the "silent" variety and have few if any GI symptoms while all along, damage is being done to their bodies. In my case, the original symptoms were elevated liver enzymes which I endured for 13 years before I was diagnosed with celiac disease. By the grace of God my liver was not destroyed. It is common for the onset of the disease to happen 10 years before you ever get a diagnosis. Thankfully, that is slowly changing as there has developed more awareness on the part of both the medical community and the public in the past 20 years or so. Blessings!
    • knitty kitty
      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @EndlessSummer, You said you had an allergy to trees.  People with Birch Allergy can react to green beans (in the legume family) and other vegetables, as well as some fruits.  Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome which can occur at a higher rate in Celiac Disease.   Switching to a low histamine diet for a while can give your body time to rid itself of the extra histamine the body makes with Celiac disease and histamine consumed in the diet.   Vitamin C and the eight B vitamins are needed to help the body clear histamine.   Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?
    • sha1091a
      Issues before diagnosis

      By sha1091a · Posted

      I found out the age of 68 that I am a celiac. When I was 16, I had my gallbladder removed when I was 24 I was put on a medication because I was told I had fibromyalgia.   going to Doctor’s over many years, not one of them thought to check me out for celiac disease. I am aware that it only started being tested by bloodwork I believe in the late 90s, but still I’m kind of confused why my gallbladder my joint pain flatulent that I complained of constantly was totally ignored. Is it not something that is taught to our medical system? It wasn’t a Doctor Who asked for the test to be done. I asked for it because of something I had read and my test came back positive. My number was quite high.Are there other people out here that had this kind of problems and they were ignored? 
    • trents
      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to celiac.com, @EndlessSummer! Do you react to all vegetables or just specific kinds or families of them? What you describe with green beans sounds like it has an anaphylaxis component. Like you, walnuts are a problem for me. They will often give me a scratchy throat so I try to avoid them. Does it matter if the vegies are raw or will-cooked in how you react to them?
×
×
  • 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.