new rule FDA has about gluten free labels!

[walkonby]

I have doing a gluten free diet ( NOT because of Celiac Disease, but because of gluten sensitivity) for many years with great health benefits for me, however when I first eliminated gluten the grocery shelves were nothing like they are today. Since that time the market has gone crazy labeling everything gf in the hopes of selling products.

That has irked me big time, plus in the process of giving up gluten I also have tried desperately to eliminate salt, sugar and greatly reduce my intake of fat. ( for weight loss as well as seeing first hand the addictive and cumulative effects salt and sugar has had on me )
Guess what all these gf products have in them in surplus? Yup salt, sugar and fat because they have no gluten they of course are not nearly as tasty ( baked things mainly, bread products ) so manufacturers toss in terribly high amounts of these other things to sell the products. ( and have you craving them coming back for more! )

Anyways good news for the U.S. on Aug 5th the FDA passed a new rule regarding gf products!! ( read article below )
I am sure we will benefit here in Canada from this eventually. BTW, that is why I almost never buy any gf processed products because once you read the labels you can see the stuff inside is anything but good for you.

How FDA’s New Gluten-Free Labeling Rule Will Change How You Shop

By Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RDN, CDN
Published Aug 4, 2014


Nowadays the gluten-free diet has been used and abused like never before.
For those of you looking for a new diet to follow to help you lose weight and find health even though you don’t medically require a gluten-free diet, you’re kidding yourselves if you think the word “diet” in gluten-free diet means weight loss. Those gluten-free muffins and pizzas are the same calories as their gluten-laden counterparts. They won’t help your waistline any more than a fat-free sugar laden diet would.
Yet for those of you whose lives have been impacted by celiac sprue or gluten intolerance, you can applaud the hundreds of new gluten-free products appearing on supermarket shelves allowing you to freely enjoy almost anything — from muffins to pizza — without experiencing uncomfortable or life-threatening side effects. Well…almost freelyenjoy these foods.
It seems that not every product designated with some sort of “gluten-free” or “no gluten” label was in fact, reliable as stated; leaving the 21 million Americans who need to follow a gluten-free diet, feeling unsafe and concerned about contamination. The actual definition of what “gluten-free” meant was, until now, vague.
Fortunately, if you require the use of foods that are truly gluten-free, today is an important milestone. As of August 5, 2014, all gluten free labels must be in compliance with a new rule by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This new rule mandates that all products labeled gluten-free must contain less than 20 parts per million (PPM) of gluten (including wheat, rye, barley and their derivatives), unless they are specifically processed to remove gluten. Surprisingly, according to Food Navigator USA, about 5 percent of manufacturers making gluten-free claims are not in compliance with FDA’s definition. It’s essential for consumers to seek out food companies they can trust. Never think twice about contacting the manufacturer if they have any questions about their products.
Three million Americans have celiac disease and another 40 million have gluten sensitivities. Plus, it is currently estimated that 95 percent of people with Celiac Disease are still undiagnosed. We need a clear definition of what gluten-free labels actually mean, as well as an array of gluten-free food options that can be trusted and enjoyed.
For those of who don’t have a medical condition that warrants us to steer clear from gluten, there are still many healthy gluten-free items such as gluten-free oatmeal or quinoa. Items such as these help keep you feeling satiated along with providing significant benefits of B vitamins, fiber, and whole grains. But just because the word “diet” appears alongside so many gluten-free items, doesn’t mean gluten-free products provide automatic health benefits or weight loss. To achieve those goals, you’ll need to turn those packages over and check the nutritional facts and ingredient lists to see what else is in that box or bag.

[Natalka]

Canada already uses that standard - as of two years ago

Based on the available scientific evidence, Health Canada considers that gluten-free foods, prepared under good manufacturing practices, which contain levels of gluten not exceeding 20 ppm as a result of cross-contamination, meet the health and safety intent of B.24.018 when a gluten-free claim is made.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit...sition-eng.php

[Patty Smyth]

Was at Costco yesterday and noticed many GF items they were actually right in the entrance way. Very expensive.

[Shwa Girl]

Guess what all these gf products have in them in surplus? Yup salt, sugar and fat because they have no gluten they of course are not nearly as tasty ( baked things mainly, bread products ) so manufacturers toss in terribly high amounts of these other things to sell the products. ( and have you craving them coming back for more! )

You are right.
Even McDonalds got on the gluten free bandwagon. Under their frequently asked questions on their website,

OUR ANSWER:Sure is, Natasha! Our fries are made without gluten sources and cooked separately from our breaded items, and are therefore suited to a gluten-free diet. Both the cheese curds and the gravy we use on our poutine are also free of gluten sources (our gravy is made with modified corn starch, not flour). Just note that as in any working kitchen, there's always a risk of cross-contact despite the precautions we take. We always encourage you to review our Food Facts PDF to check whether a menu item is right for your particular diet.

[walkonby]

Canada already uses that standard - as of two years ago

Based on the available scientific evidence, Health Canada considers that gluten-free foods, prepared under good manufacturing practices, which contain levels of gluten not exceeding 20 ppm as a result of cross-contamination, meet the health and safety intent of B.24.018 when a gluten-free claim is made.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit...sition-eng.php

thanks for posting that info Natalka, but when I said we in Canada would benefit from this now what I meant is that if we buy any products from the U.S. that are labelled GF it is better all around than it was before. I still have my original " pet peeve " with all processed foods GF or not they are overloaded with salt, sugar and fat and for the most part are C.R.A.P. ( costly repetitious addicting products )
Now excuse me everyone while I munch on this snow pea....sniff sniff.

[ticul]

Thank you to both of you as this is a very important information. I have a friend that is alone with her 4 childrens and all of them are on a gluten free diet. She is so good at cooking and baking so this way she strech her grocery. It is so, so expensive she said but her and her childrens needs it.

I keep and eye open for Gluten free coupons to help and if I see a sale on something I call her.

Again, I thank both of you as this is VERY imortant information..........................

[walkonby]

your welcome ticul, you know I just logged on and was about to post another article that I read about a family of 4 who did an experiment and gave up all forms of sugar for one year! I say bravo to them, I have done it for stints at a time ( 6 months straight being my longest stretch ) and the way you feel is incredible! Sadly this is my addiction and I struggle daily with it. I will post it shortly.

[Andit]

Just a quick tip for anyone looking for less expensive sources of rice flour (tapioca flour, etc), if you have either a Caribbean or south Asian grocery store nearby, you can get these at a fraction of the price. I bought a little bag of rice flour (450g) on sale for $0.75 at the Chinese grocery store, but NF was selling the same size (different brand) for $3+.