Tips for US Gluten-free Labels

Posted June 4, 2020

Get your CCA new Living Gluten Free guide that includes tips on US labels.

1. Identify if it is a USA product being sold in canada or a CDN product.  USA will be english only label and CDN will be english and french label.  CDN will identify gluten sources as normal.

• • USA FDA regulated foods will only identify wheat on the label (not barley or rye).  (FDA regulates all food products with the exception of meat products, poultry products and egg products.)

• USDA regulated foods are voluntary to list gluten sources but it estimated that 80-90 percent voluntary list them.

2. 2. If it is a USA label, look for a ‘gluten free’ claim.  A GF claim is regulated the same in the USA as it is in Canada, meaning less than 20ppm

2. If it’s a USA label and no ‘gluten free’ claim, look for hidden source of gluten as identified below:

For FDA-regulated foods not labeled gluten-free, read the food label looking for these words and terms:

• “Wheat”
• “Barley”
• “Rye”
• “Oats”
• “Malt” (unless a gluten-free source is named, like corn malt)
• “Brewer’s yeast”
• “Yeast extract”

If you do not see any of these words on the label of an FDA-regulated food, the product is unlikely to include any gluten-containing ingredients.

For USDA-regulated foods not labeled gluten-free and not voluntarily complying with FALCPA (The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act), read the food label looking for these words and terms:

• “Wheat”
• “Barley”
• “Rye”
• “Oats”
• “Malt”
• “Brewer’s yeast”
• “Yeast extract”
• “Starch” (unless a gluten-free source is named)
• “Dextrin” (unless a gluten-free source is named)
• “Modified food starch” (unless a gluten-free source is named)

If you do not see any of these ingredients on the label of a USDA-regulated food, the product is unlikely to include any gluten-containing ingredients.

Source: https://www.bidmc.org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/services-and-programs/celiac-center/celiacnow/nutrition-and-the-gluten-free-diet/label-reading/fda-vs-usda-labeling-laws/level-2

Resource document to reference is here https://www.bidmc.org/-/media/files/beth-israel-org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/celiac-center/celiacnow/gluten_free_diet_bidmc.pdf

More detailed info: yeast extract:  https://www.bidmc.org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/services-and-programs/celiac-center/celiacnow/nutrition-and-the-gluten-free-diet/label-reading/fda-vs-usda-labeling-laws/level-3

“Yeast extract” (Avoid yeast extract unless you have contacted the manufacturer and have been told the source of the yeast is NOT spent yeast from beer manufacturing. Spent yeast is likely contaminated with barley protein from malt)

More info GF watchdog on yeast extract: http://www.glutenfreedietitian.com/update-on-gluten-free-status-of-yeast-extract/