More on the August 19 FDA meeting on GF labeling

[Guest guest]

Here are some announcements from the Healthy Villi Newsletter from a group in Boston that I thought might interest us locally. Of particular note is the notice about the FDA meeting on Gluten-Free Labeling. This is an important chance to let the FDA know what is important to you as a celiac.

Pam Newbury Santa Cruz Celiac Support Group 831-423-6904 pknewbury@...

Subject: Healthy Villi Announcements

Dear Healthy Villi Member, We hope you are having a wonderful summer. You can expect to receive yoursummer newsletter the week of August 8th. Our next membership meeting willbe Sunday, October 16th at MassBay Community College in Wellesely. In themeantime, we are pleased to provide you with the following announcements.NPR Story on Celiac DiseaseOn Monday, July 18th, National Public Radio aired a story entitled "New Lawto Help Sufferers of Gluten Allergy." It gave some good information aboutthe symptoms and prevalence of celiac disease and also discussed the newfood labeling laws which will come into effect January 2006. There is a linkto the NPR website where you can listen to the story or read the full text:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4758492New NIH Website for Celiac DiseaseThere is a new National Institute of Health (NIH) website with currentinformation about celiac disease. Dr. Ciaran of the Celiac Center atBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center was one of the reviewers of theinformation posted, which is based on the findings of the 2004 NIH ConsensusConference. The information is current and detailed and would be a goodplace to send individuals (including doctors and dietitians) looking forinformation about celiac disease:http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm Notice Of Meeting On Gluten-Free Labeling Of FoodsA public meeting about gluten-free food labeling will be held by the Foodand Drug Administration (FDA) on August 19, 2005 in College Park, land.People wishing to attend this meeting can do so by registering at thefollowing online site: http://www.cfrsan.fda.gov/~comm/registe3.html. TheFDA is soliciting information from the public that will lead to settingregulations. They have drafted a series of questions to help focus thecomments presented at the public meeting or otherwise communicated to theagency. Those who comment are invited to address any or all of thesequestions (especially questions 8, 9 & 10):1) How do food manufacturers define "gluten-free"?2) How are "gluten-free" foods produced? For example, are "gluten-free"foods made by using only ingredients that do not contain any gluten (i.e.,they are inherently "gluten-free") or are they made by processingingredients or the finished food to remove gluten?3) Due to potential grain cross-contact situations, is it technologicallyfeasible to produce "gluten-free" flour from grains other than those ofconcern (e.g., corn, millet)?4) What measure do you have in place during the manufacturing, packaging, orholding of "gluten-free" foods to prevent them from coming into contact withany grains of concern? For example, do you use dedicated facilities,dedicated equipment, or dedicated production lines?5) What analytical method(s) do you use to evaluate your "gluten-free"products?6) A series of questions seeks data and information about available glutendetection test kits or analytical methods to detect gluten.7) What analytical methods are currently available or under development todetect the presence of oat proteins in food? Please specify which proteins.8) Are there available research data or findings on what consumers withceliac disease or their caregivers believe the term "gluten-free" means? Forexample, do the research data or findings show consumers' beliefs as towhich specific grains or other ingredients are not present in foods labeled"gluten-free"?9) Are there available research data or findings on how consumers withceliac disease or their caregivers identify packaged foods that do notcontain gluten? Do the data establish how much time these consumers devoteto identifying such foods?10) Are there available research data or findings on whether the packagedfoods consumers with celiac disease or their caregivers currently purchaseor consume are primarily or exclusively those foods labeled "gluten-free"?You can submit your comments electronically atwww.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm (click on "comments" and scroll downto docket #2005N-0279. Comments sent by mail should be directed to FDADivision of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD20852. Be sure to note Docket #2005N-0279 in the subject line of any e-mailor correspondence. The FDA will be accepting comments until September 19,2005.