NSF Says Gluten-Free Program Consistent with FDA Regulation

ANN ARBOR, Mich.NSF International confirmed its science-based Gluten-Free Certification Program has met FDA's new regulation defining the term "gluten-free" for voluntary food labeling.

The FDA recently published the final rule that sets a gluten limit of 20 parts per million (ppm) in foods labeled as "gluten free", "without gluten", "free of gluten", or "no gluten". Food manufacturers have a year from the date the rule is published to bring their labels into compliance with the new requirements.

The rule applies to all FDA-regulated foods, including dietary supplements.

Gluten-free products certified via NSF Internationals already meet the FDAs new gluten-free labeling regulation, according to the company. In 2011, NSF International developed its voluntary gluten-free standard and certification program, which verifies that certified products contain 20 ppm or less of gluten.

In addition to product testing, NSF audits the manufacturing facilities to ensure the manufacturing process prevents gluten contamination of products and reviews the formulations to verify that the ingredients used are gluten-free.

Due to pervasive cross-contamination of source ingredients, even manufacturers who singularly make gluten-free products must incorporate adequate testing and verification protocols, NSF International said.  

Such a certification program could benefit the more than three million Americans who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

NSF Internationals gluten-free label brings transparency and trust to people who need gluten-free foods as part of maintaining their healthy diet, and provides essential brand protection and assurance to the food producers, retailers and restaurants seeking to meet the needs of these consumers and the new regulation," Jaclyn Bowen, General Manager of NSF International Agriculture and QAI (Quality Assurance International), an NSF International Company, said in a statement.

"Parts of the FDA regulation are still being clarified. NSF will continue to monitor the regulation to ensure our certification program remains consistent with their requirements," Bowen added.