UNITED KINGDOM—The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued new European Union food labeling regulations stating only foods that contain less than 20 parts of gluten in a million will be allowed to use the term 'gluten-free' on their packaging. Previously, a food labeled ‘gluten free’ could have contained up to 10 times more than the new rule.
Some foods made using cereals that have been specially processed to remove most of the gluten, but which contain less than 100 parts of gluten in a million, will be able to make the claim 'very low gluten' on the packaging. These include substitutes of certain staple foods such as bread.
The introduction of just two types of labeling will reduce consumer confusion in this area and help people with celiac disease to make safe and informed choices about the types of food they eat.
Manufacturers can use the new labeling system immediately; however, in order to give them time to adapt to the new rules by reformulating products or changing existing packaging, products do not have to comply with the new rules until Jan. 1, 2012.