Labelling

In November 2005, labelling laws were put into place stating that pre-packaged foods must make it clear if a product contains gluten. You'll come across different types of labelling, labels that say a product 'contains gluten', that a product 'may contain gluten', which means that it may have come into contact with gluten along the supply chain (cross-contamination), or that a product is 'gluten-free'. Also, some manufacturers use 'not suitable for coeliacs' on their labels, as oppose to 'may contain gluten'. Gluten-free labelling comes in different forms, either it is in words, or the crossed grain symbol is used, or another 'free from' symbol is used, which is labelling usually preferred by supermarket's own free from brands.

Unlike deliberately added ingredients, there are no statutory laws governing products which may have gluten accidentally in them (may contain gluten) through cross contamination along the supply chain, although Sue Hattersley, Head of the Food Standards Agency's Food Allergy Branch, warns that 'advisory labelling should only be used when, following a thorough risk assessment, there is a real risk of allergen cross-contamination, as ''excessive use of warning labels about the possible presence of allergens, can restrict consumer choice and devalue the impact of warning labels".

Let's face it, for the majority of us if we see a product 'may contain gluten', we wouldn't give it a second thought!

In July 2006, the FSA published the Guidance on Allergen Management & Consumer Information. This provides best practice guidance on managing food allergens, with particular reference to avoiding cross-contamination and using appropriate advisory labelling. Click here for information on the FSA best practice guidelines. back to research made simple