In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak about gluten-free food safety from the perspectives of a person with celiac disease, a consumer advocate, and a food manufacturer, including gluten-free labeling requirements, food safety controls, gaps in U.S. labeling regulations, and policy discussions around cross-contact, precautionary labeling, thresholds, and "free-from" claims.
The bipartisan Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2026 would amend FDA's major food allergen labeling requirements to include barley, rye, and oats alongside wheat, in an effort to mitigate "hidden" exposure to gluten for consumers with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
Although the levels of gluten in analyzed samples fell below EU limits, the results from conventional ELISA tests differed from those of a new, more sensitive method. Combining established rapid testing methods with advanced mass spectrometry techniques could potentially improve future detection capabilities.
FDA has issued a Request for Information regarding labeling and preventing cross-contact of gluten in packaged foods, in an effort to improve transparency in the disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions (such as gluten for those with celiac disease) and other food allergens.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses scientific recommendations around ultra-processed food (UPF) definitions and policy, a study demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of common sanitizers in potato wash water, and a review outlining the food safety risks of edible flowers. Also discussed are regulatory and standards developments in the U.S., EU, and at the international level.
To support Codex committee deliberations, an ad hoc joint FAO/WHO committee convened to recommend a gluten reference dose (RfD) in a risk-based precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) framework to ensure food safety for people with both celiac and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated wheat allergies.
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses allergen news in the EU, where experts recommend “hidden” food allergens for mandatory labeling, and in the U.S., where USDA-FSIS is adding gluten to its allergen verification activities.
Although gluten is not one of the Big 9 major food allergens, USDA inspectors will now verify that establishments producing meat, poultry, and egg products are accurately controlling and labeling gluten similar to the Big 9 major food allergens.
A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for individuals with celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1 percent of the world population. Even small amounts of gluten ingestion can cause a person with celiac disease to become ill, which is why food safety is paramount.
