It's About Time

Gluten is the name for proteins in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. In the U.S., gluten is found not just in baked goods, but in items such as candy, medicine, and fast foods. Gluten also creeps into our entire food system. Grains like oats and rice that don’t contain gluten can be contaminated in the field during crop rotation, or at any point from harvesting to packaging.

One in 133 Americans has gluten sensitivity, with most people undiagnosed. We rely on accurate food labelling. But can we trust a gluten-free label?

In 2004, President Bush signed the Food Allergen and Consumer Protection Act, directing the FDA to issue final rules on gluten-free labelling by 2008. To date, the FDA has only made a recommendation: that to be labelled “gluten-free”, a food not contain a prohibited grain like wheat, rye, or barley, an ingredient derived from these grains, or a prohibited grain that was processed to remove gluten if more than 20 parts per million of gluten remains. Twenty ppm was considered safe for persons needing a gluten-free diet.

The recommendation doesn’t state how gluten is to be tested, nor does it address gluten testing in raw ingredients. With varying accuracy in tests for gluten, and without a mandated standard reference method, a label’s claim of gluten-free is tricky.

Research into why some patients with celiac disease don’t improve on gluten-free diets has shown us that inaccurate gluten-free labelling is the culprit. Independent testing of store-bought foods for gluten contamination show that store-bought flours -- including non-prohibited grain flours like rice flour -- can contain more than 20 ppm gluten.

Because there isn't a requirement for manufacturers to test non-gluten containing grains for gluten contamination, gluten-free labelling is being applied indiscriminately and inappropriately to both contaminated and non-contaminated foods.

The FDA is finally asking for input on a new gluten-free labelling regulation. I say "it's about time."

For information on commenting, view this article: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm265838.htm

On Being a Girrilla

The U.S. is a market-driven economy. If you have food sensitivities, you need to let people know about them. It's really the best way to educate companies and help them improve their products and procedures.

Most of the companies I have corresponded with have been thrilled to have my feedback. At the least, conversations have resulted in my learning more about a company's products, and the company learning more about my preferences.

Your voice can help a manufacturer find an alternate ingredient, modify their labeling, or come up with a new product line. One of my top three wishes is for chocolatiers to stop using soy lecithin as an emulsifier, and to replace it with sunflower lecithin, cranberry, or some other ingredient.

Some stores allow you to special order a product, providing impetus for the store to carry that product on a regular basis. At Whole Foods, I special-ordered one of my favorite shower gels from Pangea Organics. It is a gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free concoction, incorporating delightful organic herbs and oils and using a recycled container with minimal packaging.

I've written to companies simply to thank them for making a marvelous product. I like Naked Juice, Dagoba Chocolates, Flying Apron Bakery, Aubrey Organics, Hugo Naturals, Enjoy Life, Food for Life... and I'm happy to send a note when a congratulations are due.

Make it a habit to speak up for your health!

Here are some contact addresses to get you started:

Whole Foods Market: Contact Whole Foods
PCC Natural Markets: Contact PCC
Super Supplements: Contact the Customer Care Team
Bob's Red Mill: Contact Us
Lundberg Family Farms: Contact Us
Arrowhead Mills: About Us/Contact Us
Tinkyada Rice Pasta: We'd Love to Hear From You
Dagoba Organic Chocolate: Contact Us
Naked Juice: Welcome to Naked Juice
Kroger (QFC & Fred Meyer): Contact Kroger with Comments and Questions
Uwajimaya: We Want to Hear From You
Starbucks: Starbucks Customer Feedback
Costco: Costco Customer Service
Safeway: Contact Safeway
Odwalla: Talk to Us
Bissingers Handcrafted Chocolatier: Contact Us

Happy Commenting!