As you gather more gluten-free favorites (from our reviews), you may notice that a few have seals that certify them as “gluten-free” by different organizations. Since buying gluten-free products can have its risks, these organizations want to make shopping easier for people with gluten intolerance.
The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is probably one of the more well-known groups out there. It’s a certification program run by the Gluten Intolerance Group, which is a non-profit that supports people who are sensitive to gluten. The GFCO put its “GF Certification Mark” on products that meet a certain sets of requirements. Companies can start the GFCO certification process by first applying. After being accepted into the application process, the Gluten-Free Certification Organization will go to the manufacturing plant to inspect it and test for gluten in the environment. Then the product is tested and it must contain less than 10 ppm gluten. In order for the company to maintain the gluten-free seal on its product, it must agree to random product testing and plant inspections. The company and GFCO also have to renew this agreement annually.
The GFCO is just one program that was established to certify gluten-free products; there are also other gluten intolerance support groups that have set up their own certification programs. One such group is the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA), a large non-profit celiac support group that was started in 1977. The CSA has much more stringent requirements than most other groups. Testing, done at the lab of the University of Nebraska Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, must show that products contain less than 5 ppm gluten. That is less than a quarter of the gluten level proposed by the FDA (20ppm). The Celiac Sprue Association also reviews the ingredient list and their sources, especially harder-to-trace ingredients like vinegar or vanilla extract. They check how the product is being processed, the manufacturer’s plan to keep allergens out of the food, and even the materials being used in the packaging.
These seals and certifications aim to make eating and grocery shopping easier and less stressful for consumers with gluten intolerance. Next time you’re in the store, check out a few of your favorite products to see if they are sporting any of these seals!
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