coeliac watch
by Emily Kirk
Dietitian Coeliac UK
Last issue I reported on the news of the European
Commission (EC) draft proposal for legislation on glu-
ten-free foods. Since then, progress has been made in
Nutritional Adequacy
several key areas.
Project
Codex standard
At the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutri- Coeliac UK dietitians, Emma
tion and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) in
Germany, in November 2007, there was agreement on a
Merrikin, Emily Kirk and Norma
new revised Codex standard for foods for special dietary
McGough are continuing
uses for persons intolerant to gluten.
work on a research project,
EC Regulation on gluten-free foods
The EC has decided to develop legislation based on
carrying out a systematic liter-
the new Codex standard and has produced a draft
ature review on the nutritional
Regulation for gluten-free foods.
The Regulation sets out to establish rules used in label-
adequacy of a typical gluten-
ling of foods for people who are intolerant to gluten
whether they are specialist substitute products, or ordi-
free diet with particular refer-
nary foods that that meet the requirements for gluten
ence to iron, calcium, folate
free foods.
The Food Standards Agency has been consulting with
and B vitamins.
other stakeholders the past few months to further discuss
the EC Regulation for the new dual Codex standard.
The team are making good
Once the regulation comes into force the term ‘glu-
ten-free’ will only be able to be used for products with a
progress, and are set to com-
level of gluten below 20mg/kg and ‘very low gluten’ for
plete a report of the findings
those products which have been specially processed to
remove the gluten content and have a level of between
to the Food Standards Agen-
20mg/kg and 100mg/kg.
The legislation will be developed under the PARNUTS
cy in September.
(Foods for particular nutritional uses) Directive 89/398/
EEC.
cereals including oats
The legislation will cover all substitute food products
• Education needs for consumers, manufacturers and
intended for people who are intolerant to gluten, pure
healthcare professionals
uncontaminated oat products and ordinary foods that
meet the gluten-free requirements. These ordinary food
Timescale of the new legislation
products that are not specialist substitute products will
The precise timetabling of the introduction of the
be able to be labelled as ‘gluten-free’ but will not be
legislation has not yet been finalised, but there is likely to
considered as PARNUTS foods.
be a 3-year period from the time the Regulation is intro-
Coeliac UK has been involved in meetings with the
duced to enable the manufacturers to make all neces-
food service sector in conjunction with the Food Stan-
sary changes to product ranges and labels.
dards Agency on this issue since the beginning of 2008 to
represent the needs of people with coeliac disease.
Coeliac UK submitted comments on the draft Regula- Contact Coeliac UK
tion which included: Helpline: 0870 444 8804
• Clear product labelling with ‘suitability for people Open: 10am-4 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri
with coeliac disease’ statement 11am -4pm Weds
• The need for clarity regarding naturally gluten-free Website www.coeliac.org.uk
Supporting the coeliac community
www.juvela.co.uk
26 NHDmag.com Aug/Sep ‘08 - issue 37
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