News article
3 June 2019
FDF publishes updated gluten labelling guidance
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The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has today published 'Gluten
Labelling Guidance: Best Practice for Prepacked Foods which Include or Exclude
Cereals Containing
Gluten'. This updated UK best practice guidance provides advice to food business
operators on
how to label food products that include cereals containing gluten, and which
claims can be made
relating to the absence or reduced presence of gluten (e.g. gluten-free). The
Gluten Free Industry
Association (GFIA) now joins Coeliac UK, Anaphylaxis Campaign and the British
Retail Consortium
(BRC) as supporting partners of this guidance.
The document has been developed to illustrate examples of different labelling
situations, with
special consideration given to oats and wheat species. It provides information
about the distinction
between coeliac disease and cereal allergy, advice on precautionary allergen
labelling, and a flow
diagram for making gluten absence claims. It also includes an overview of the
relevant EU and UK
legislation and guidance.
Heather Hancock, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency, said:
“The Food Standards Agency welcomes the FDF's work to achieve greater
consistency in
how the presence of cereals containing gluten and gluten-free claims are
labelled on prepacked
foods. Having a trusted consistent approach will make it easier for people with
coeliac disease or with
allergies to these cereals to find and understand the labelling information
they
need. And that means
they can make safer food choices. I am very pleased to see further progress in
this important area of
public health and consumer protection.”
Alex Turtle, Food Law, Labelling and Enforcement Manager, FDF, said:
“To be able to choose a safe prepacked food, allergic consumers need clear
information
about its composition; whether it includes any cereals containing gluten or has
been produced gluten-
free. It is vitally important that food manufacturers provide legally compliant
labels that present
consistent allergen information. FDF is committed to providing best-practice
regulatory guidance and
we hope that this updated, more comprehensive, guidance continues to support
food manufacturers,
of all sizes, to make informed labelling declarations regarding their products.”
Norma McGough, Director of Policy, Research and Campaigns at Coeliac UK, said:
"The Charity supports the updated FDF best practice guidance for the food
industry. By
distinguishing the presence of allergens (i.e. gluten-containing cereals) with
the absence of gluten in
foods (i.e. gluten-free), the guidance helps highlight the important
distinction
between an allergy to
cereals and coeliac disease. We also welcome approaches to limit use of
precautionary statements
relating to the presence of cereals containing gluten in prepacked products.”
For more information, please contact Ella Stanbrook, Corporate Affairs Executive
(Media), on 020
7420 7131, ella.stanbrook@fdf.org.uk
Notes for editors:
- The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the food and drink
manufacturing
industry – the UK's largest manufacturing sector. For more information about
FDF
and the industry
we represent visit: www.fdf.org.uk
- 'Gluten Labelling Guidance: Best Practice for Prepacked Foods which Include or
Exclude
Cereals Containing Gluten' is available on the FDF website
- The initial version of this guidance was published in June 2015.
- Coeliac UK is the oldest and largest coeliac disease charity in the world and
has been
working for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis since
1968.
For more
information, visit www.coeliac.org.uk
- Anaphylaxis Campaign is the only UK wide charity operating solely for the
growing numbers
of people at risk from severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. For more
information, visit www.anaphylaxis.org.uk
- The British Retail Consortium is the go-to trade association for all UK
retailers, promoting the
story of retail, shaping debates and influencing the issues that matter to the
industry. For more
information, visit www.brc.org.uk
- The Gluten Free Industry Association (GFIA) represents and promotes the common
interests of UK Gluten Free manufacturers on a wide range of issues. More information »
More Information
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