Changes in FDA labeling law for gluten-free items begin this month
Use of label voluntary; does not include meat, fish, poultry, some oils

The Kogan Celiac Center of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System reminds the public of changes in labeling regulations from the FDA due out this month. These labeling changes are intended to help individuals with celiac disease, who must eat gluten-free products.

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder characterized by an inflammatory reaction to the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. There is no cure for this disease, with the only known treatment to remove gluten from the diet. Upcoming changes in food-labeling laws will provide new and helpful information for individuals who follow a gluten-free diet, but are complicated and require some explanation.

Currently, U.S. food-labeling laws require that the eight most allergenic foods (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soybeans) be listed by their commonly recognized name on ingredient labels of packaged foods sold in the United States. The labeling requirement, which took effect in 2006 under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, helped consumers identify ingredients they needed to avoid as a result of various allergies and intolerances; however, for individualswith celiac disease, the labeling requirement was only partly helpful.

A definition of "gluten-free" has been developed for voluntary use on product labels, effective in August. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs and highly refined oils are not included, but any other processed food may put "gluten- free" on its label if it contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. There will also be new retail labeling guidelines in the fall regarding the country of origin of beef, lamb, pork, fish, shellfish, fruits, vegetables and peanuts. The information must state whether a product comes from the United States only, foreign sources only or is of mixed origin. Restaurants, cafeterias, food stands, and a few other small entities are exempt from this regulation.

Foods not governed by these guidelines may result in misleading labels that do not accurately reflect where individual ingredients are grown and processed. For example, a candy bar that is labeled "Product of France" may actually contain peanuts from Argentina.

The labeling information is extremely critical for individuals following a glutenfree diet, and the laws may make purchasing decisions easier and more difficult at the same time. For example, products labeled "gluten-free" may actually have small quantities of gluten that are less than the established threshold — individuals must make purchasing decisions based on individual sensitivity and risk tolerance.

Processed foods are not formally covered under the country of origin labeling guidelines and may show informal labels that don't completely reveal the sources of all ingredients that may be harmful to celiacs. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are not governed by the regulations, but work on these regulations is in progress.

Margaret Masiello, clinical coordinator of the Kogan Center, urges those diagnosed with celiac disease to visit specialized celiac centers throughout the country to take take full advantage of the support services offered.

For more information, call 973-322-7272 or visit www.koganceliaccenter.com.