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Shopping and Label Reading 101. Rebecca Powell Systems Management Associate - SP. Overview. Shopping can seem intimidating to those newly diagnosed Simple guidelines Fresh ingredients naturally gluten-free Fruits, vegetables, dairy Reading labels can be very quick and easy
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Shopping and Label Reading 101 Rebecca Powell Systems Management Associate - SP
Overview • Shopping can seem intimidating to those newly diagnosed • Simple guidelines • Fresh ingredients naturally gluten-free • Fruits, vegetables, dairy • Reading labels can be very quick and easy • Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (2006) - FALCPA • Coming soon: FALCPA Gluten Free
Simple Guidelines • Need background • Just a few things to look for • Process of elimination
Who Regulates Our Food? • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • US Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
USDA • Primary responsibility for the safety of meat, poultry and certain egg products • USDA inspects all meat, poultry and egg products sold in interstate commerce • Re-inspects imported meat, poultry and egg products - to meet U.S. safety standards
FDA • Regulates foods other than the meat and poultry products regulated by the USDA • Responsible for the safety of drugs, medical devices, biologics, animal feed and drugs, cosmetics, and radiation emitting devices. • Authority to inspect large commercial egg farms • Regulates GF Beer
Labeling of Top 8 Allergens • Effective in 2006, an act was passed • FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act) • The top 8 allergens must be listed on the ingredients label • Accounts for 90% of all allergens
Items Covered by FALCPA • A "major food allergen“ - an ingredient or an ingredient that contains protein derived from one of the following: • Milk • Egg • Fish (ID type) • Crustacean shellfish (ID type - such as crab, lobster, or shrimp) • mollusks shellfish (such as oysters, clams, mussels, or scallops) are not considered allergens • Tree nuts (ID Type) • Wheat • Peanuts • Soybeans (soya, soy)
Two Methods of Labeling In ingredients listing Contains statement
FALCPA Limits • FDA-regulated products only • Does not take into account possible cross-contaminations • Does not require a threshold limit • USDA-regulated companies encouraged to voluntarily comply with FALCPA
What does this mean? • Greatly simplifies shopping • Wheat must be clearly labeled • Still need to look for other gluten-containing grains • Rye • Barley, barley malt • Non-gluten-free oats
Naturally Gluten-Free • Perimeter shopping • Produce • Dairy • Eggs • Egg substitutes—read the label • Seafood • Imitation seafood—read the label • Meats • Covered by USDA
USDA extras • Two possible hidden sources of gluten • Dextrin, maltodextrin • Starch/food starch/modified food starch
USDA - extras? • Dextrins and food starches are made from corn, rice, or potato when manufactured in the US • Possibly made from wheat when manufactured outside the US • Call the manufacturer for more information • Find a substitute
Label Reading Guidelines • Look for GF Symbol • Product is regularly tested • Look for Contains statement • Usually at bottom of ingredients list • Look for anything in ingredients list • Will use readily recognizable terms • Regulatory body? • FDA, USDA • Does it contain any of the USDA extra items (food starch, dextrin)?
Lists of Gluten-Free Foods • Lists are available, however: • Not recommended • Manufacturers change ingredients frequently • Any such list is obsolete by the time it reaches you • Our recommendation: • Find your favorite options • Read the label every time
Sample Label – Step by Step • Crab cake: • Does it have a GF symbol? • No • Look at Contains statement • Crab, Soy, and Eggs are GF • Anything suspicious in the list? • No • Regulated by? • FDA (symbol on side of package) • USDA extras? • No, regulated by FDA • This is gluten-free
Sample Label #2 • Nalley Chili: • Does it have a GF symbol? • No • Look at Contains statement • Soy is GF, but not Wheat • Anything suspicious in the list? • Yes, wheat flour • Regulated by? • USDA (meat product) • USDA extras? • Yes, modified food starch • This is NOT gluten-free
Sample Label #3 • Nutrition bar: • Does it have a GF symbol? • Yes • Look at Contains statement • Nuts are gluten-free • Anything suspicious in the list? • No • Regulated by? • USDA (symbol found on package) • USDA extras? • No • This is gluten-free
Sample Label #4 • Crab cake: • Does it have a GF symbol? • No • Look at Contains statement • Crab, Soy, and Eggs are GF • Anything suspicious in the list? • No • Regulated by? • FDA (symbol on side of package) • USDA extras? • No, regulated by FDA • This is gluten-free
Conclusion • To
Upcoming Calls and Webinars • None for the month of June! GIG’s Health and Wellness Experience • Phone call – Raising Funds on a Smaller Scale Tuesday, July 10, 2012 4:30 pm PST (7:30 pm EST) • Webinar – Gluten-Free in School and in College Sunday, July 22, 2012 4:30 pm PST (7:30 pm EST)