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Category Archives: Research

Gluten-Free Certification and Labeling: Unraveling Gluten-Free Shopping in the United States

5 / 30 / 187 / 11 / 20

In 2014, the  FDA’s food labeling regulations were enacted.  Basically, in order for any food to be labeled “Gluten-Free” the manufacturer must ensure that the product contains less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten.  While this was a small victory for gluten-free labeling, the manufacturers are not required to test their finished product for the presence of gluten in  any specific way.  If this sounds confusing, it’s because it is!  Therefore, my family and I rely on the following methods to check if products are truly gluten free:

  • Look for an independent gluten-free labeling seal,
  • Read product testing reports at glutenfreewatchdog.org ,
    (Gluten Free Watchdog independently tests products both with gluten-free packaging claims and without and the testing reports online)
  • and contact the manufacturer directly.

In this post, I’m going to unravel the world of what those gluten free logos are that you see on packages, plus give you suggestions of my favorite brands who adhere to the standards so you can add them to your shopping list!

Are you ready to simplify your dinner routine?
Download “FIVE IN FIVE”–my FREE e-cookbook of simple & easy gluten free dinners containing 5 ingredients or less!


In the United States, there are currently only 4 gluten-free independent certification agencies.  What is an independent certification agency?  These are agencies which manufacturers can hire to independently test their products for the presence of gluten.  Once a product is deemed to meet the standards of the agency, the manufacturer can then place the agency’s logo on their packaging.  All four agencies exceed the FDA’s requirements.  Here are the 4 gluten-free independent certification agencies whose logos you may see in the United States.

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.

1. Beyond Celiac Endorsed Gluten-Free Certification Program

The GFCP is the first North American Alliance of gluten-free labeling (meaning you will see this logo in both the United States and Canada). This gluten-free certification goes beyond just testing final products for the presence of gluten, but also inspects the manufacturer’s manufacturing process, sourcing, equipment and more.

Some of my favorite brands certified by the GFCP to add to your shopping list are:
Baby Mum-Mum;  Kinnikinnick; Simply Asia; and the live G free line from Aldi

2. Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO)

The GFCO tests both United States and international manufacturer’s finished products to ensure that the final product contains 10ppm or less of gluten.  Beyond this, GFCO inspects equipment and requires manufacturers receiving gluten-free certification to continually submit already-approved products for routine review.

Some of my favorite brands to add to your shopping list who are certified by GFCO are:
Barney & Co; Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP; Purely Elizabeth; King Arthur Flour; Primal Kitchen

3. The Public Health and Safety Organization (NSF)

The NSF conducts on-site inspections of their manufacturers’ processes and equipment and certifies through random batch sampling that products test at 15ppm or less of gluten.

Some of my favorite brands with gluten-free certification by NSF are:
TruRoots Ancient Grain; BetterBody Foods. These are some basics to add to your weekly plan and shopping list.

4. National Celiac Association (NCA)

The NCA has very strict standards for gluten-free certification ensuring that each final product tests at 5ppm or less of gluten.

Some of my favorite NCA certified brands that I add to my shopping lists are:
Daiya; Joy Cone Company; Hodgson Mill

 

One place I love to shop for gluten-free food is at Thrive Market.  We don’t have any health stores nearby and Thrive has a great selection (plus, you can filter by diet type: gluten-free, paleo, keto, and more!).  Click here to get a free month trial of Thrive Market and save up to $20 on your first order!

Learn more about my experience with Thrive Market and what I order regularly here!

PS—Don’t be deceived by brands who have their own ‘label’ which appears official (for example, Frito-Lay’s, Bob’s Red Mill, or General Mills).  While these products may in-fact be gluten-free and safe for consumption by Celiacs and others requiring a strict gluten-free standard, this is not an independent certification.  For products like this, I search Gluten Free Watchdog and contact manufacturers.

Also–make sure you download my FREE printable weekly menu planner and shopping list!  You’ll gain access to my other freebies as well. 🙂

Don’t forget– Clear the confusion and make dinner simple with “FIVE IN FIVE”–the free e-cookbook containing easy dinners you can make with 5 ingredients or less!

Here are some recipes and other tips you will LOVE:

  • Gluten-Free Holiday Gift Guide
  • 10 Minute Gluten-Free Fried Rice
  • Grain-Free Lemon Mug Cake for One
  • No-Soy Steak Marinade
  • 17+ Vegan Shakes & Smoothie Bowls
 

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Disclosure

5 / 18 / 187 / 18 / 18

Comment policy

One of the things I love about the internet is that it provides such a great platform for discussing ideas with individuals of various backgrounds!  However, we’ve all seen those comment threads where people tear each other apart.  *Warning—mom voice ahead*  On this blog, you will be kind and encouraging.  Some of my readers are just curious about what it means to be gluten-free, others have been living like this for years, and others have recently discovered their way of life is going to change.  Have grace with one another.  I will step in and delete comments if necessary, but I hope I will not have to.

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I care about my readers, and it’s my goal to provide you with quality content with the hope of generating a small profit so I can continue to provide content that you care about.

Since this blog is used as a source of income, it is important that I disclose to you the following:

  • this blog will be used to promote products and services that I am passionate about, any item or service promoted will be ones that we have used and believe you will love too!
  • I don’t believe in selling my opinion—while I may receive compensation for a listing or affiliate link, I will not write anything short of the truth in my reviews!  My reviews are always my own.
  • Any time a company provides me a free product or compensation in exchange for a review, I will disclose at the beginning of the post that it is a sponsored post.

If you have any questions, please contact me directly at thehelpfulgf {at} gmail {dot} com

Liability

While I post research and tips concerning autoimmune diseases and living a gluten-free lifestyle, I am not a medical professional.  In addition, please be aware in all of my reviews that ingredients, company policies, and kitchen practices can change at any moment or vary by location.  Any content posted on my blog is solely for informational purposes.  Always be sure to do your own research, ask questions, and consult medical professionals.

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I hate spam—and I know you do too!  This blog does not share any information with third parties or store information concerning your visit to this site except for cookies used to evaluate and enhance your experience on this blog through the use of GoogleAnalytics.  The cookies used on this site should enhance your browsing experience with The Helpful GF, but these cookies can be turned off or deleted in your browser settings.

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In addition, many of the links on this blog are affiliate links.  If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a portion of the sale at no extra expense to you!  If a post contains an affiliate link it will be stated right at the beginning of the post.  Currently, there are affiliate links from Amazon.com, Thrive Market, and Etsy.

This privacy policy was updated on July 18, 2018 and is subject to change.  If you have any questions, please contact me directly at sharon {at} thehelpfulgf {dot} com.

 

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Hi! I’m Sharon from Upstate New York. When I married my husband (diagnosed with Celiac in 1997) in 2012, I quickly learned that being gluten-free was more complicated than giving up bread. I’m a church-planting pastor’s wife and a working mom just trying to make it all work! Welcome to my space. ♥

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