FDA to Study Gluten Free Food Labeling - Summer 2009

I've been pretty critical of the FDA on this blog over the last few months. Being critical or negative is not something I like to do normally, but I personally think they could be doing a lot more for Gluten Free consumers and manufacturers. However, I do understand how the federal government "works" - slowly.

I received notice a few days ago about a new study the FDA will be doing this summer about Gluten Free food labeling - it is called Gluten-Free Labeling of Food Products Experimental Study. They published a notice about the study and under federal law must allow for 60 days of comments before the study can begin. You may comment on the study notice until May 5, 2009. My comment would be something like "Hurry the heck up already!".

The purpose of the study is to gauge perceptions of characteristics related to claims of ‘‘gluten-free’’ and allowed variants (e.g.,‘‘free of gluten,’’ ‘‘without gluten,’’ ‘‘no gluten’’), in addition to other types of statements (e.g., ‘‘made in a gluten-free facility’’ or ‘‘not made in a facility that processes gluten-containing foods’’) on the food label. The study will also assess consumer understanding of ‘‘gluten-free’’ claims on foods that are naturally free of gluten, and gauge consumer reaction to a product carrying a gluten claim concurrently with a statement about the amount of gluten the product contains. The data will be collected over the Internet from samples derived from two sources: (1) A membership list from a celiac disease special interest organization and (2) an online consumer panel. Participation in the study is voluntary.

We all know that the FDA missed the August 2008 deadline to finalize the FALCPA law proposed in 2004 and passed in 2006. The law states the following for Gluten labeling...

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with appropriate experts and stakeholders, shall issue a proposed rule to define, and permit use of, the term ``gluten-free'' on the labeling of foods. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule to define, and permit use of, the term ``gluten-free'' on the labeling of foods.

Two years was August 2008 - but I guess they technically have until 2010 to make the proposed rule final. Hopefully the FDA will get their act in gear and the study this summer will finalize labeling of Gluten Free products. More to come on this topic - stay tuned!