Food Labeling

[Cindy Neshe]

I don’t understand how companies can label their product as gluten free and then on the back of the package make a statement about “processed in a facility that uses wheat, dairy, etc. Wheat as we know contains gluten, so how can they get away with the words “Gluten Free”?

[kareng]

38 minutes ago, Cindy Neshe said:

I don’t understand how companies can label their product as gluten free and then on the back of the package make a statement about “processed in a facility that uses wheat, dairy, etc. Wheat as we know contains gluten, so how can they get away with the words “Gluten Free”?

In the US, if the product doe not contain gluten, they can say gluten-free.  Just because there is wheat in the “ facility” does not make the product not gluten-free.

“Facility” is a broad term.  For some companies it means in the same campus - they might have 4 buildings in the facility.  Some have separate rooms in one big building.  If the manufacturer tests the product and it tests gluten-free, it doesn’t matter if the next machine over makes wheat flour ( of course that doesn’t happen).  Lots of “gluten “ is not loose flour that flies everywhere.  It may be pre- made crushed pretzels added to a chocolate bar.  Almond choco bars are made on their own machine.  Those pretzels aren’t really jumping up and running over to the almond bars.  (An example)

Same machinery could be an issue - that depends on the products and how easy it is to clean a machine.  

If you have concerns, they best way to understand is speak/ email/ read their site.

 

[kareng]

This probably explains better than me- 

 

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/myths/

 

Read the whole thing but here is a little part- 

“...

 

If you find a product that is labeled gluten-free but bears a warning like this one, you can rest assured that the product must comply with the gluten-free labeling law. Even though foods can have an allergen advisory statements for wheat, if they are also labeled gluten-free, the product must meet the requirements of the gluten-free labeling rule. Basically, these labels are voluntary and the absence of an advisory statement does not automatically mean a product is produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility....”