FDA Releases Final Rule for Gluten-Free Fermented and Hydrolyzed Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule to establish compliance requirements for fermented and hydrolyzed foods, or foods that contain fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients, and that bear the “gluten-free” claim. The rule pertains to foods such as soy sauce, yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, and green olives. Distilled foods, such as distilled vinegars, are also included in the final rule.
“These new compliance requirements for labeling a product ‘gluten-free’ will protect individuals with celiac disease, an incurable, hereditary disorder that millions of Americans, including myself, live with,” says U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. “The FDA’s final rule helps to ensure common products labeled ‘gluten-free’ really are gluten-free, equipping consumers to make the best choices for their health and their families.”