GFCO
CSA
Come August, 2014, it will be safer and easier for celiacs living in or travelling to the United States to buy groceries. Yay! The new labelling legislation, which I’m very excited was finally passed this summer!!, means that companies will no longer be able to label products as “gluten free” unless they contain less than 20ppm of gluten.
Until then, it can be challenging finding gluten free products in the US which are really gluten free and genuinely safe for celiacs to enjoy. Without a definition for what “gluten free”actually means companies can label their products as so even when they are manufactured on shared equipment with gluten-containing products. This isn’t helpful, and it’s dangerous, for celiacs looking for safe, gluten free options. To help make your life a little simpler, and safer, look out for these logos when you’re out gluten free grocery shopping.
The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is probably the best known certification program in the United States for gluten-free products. They inspect products and manufacturing facilities for gluten and they assure consumers that products certified by them (using the symbol above, on the right) contain less than 10ppm of gluten.
The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) use their seal (above, on the left) to let consumers know that products with this seal have been tested to ensure they contain less than 5ppm.
The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) also certifies products using their logo (below) which tells consumers that these products test at levels of less than 10ppm of gluten. They work with both US and Canadian products.
GFCP
Do you know of any other gluten free certification programs currently being used in the United States? Let me know!
Paul
Nov 10th, 2014good article but just wish to clarify that the GFCP does not certify products but does certify the facility in which the product is made.