This issue has been ongoing and hard fought for years. The battle is not finished yet but there is ground being gained!

On  July 26, 2008 Health Canada released for public comment it’s  proposed amendments to the Food And Drug requirements for public comment.   June 2010 has brought some new postings on the topic that are of interest to the Gluten side of the concern.

June 2010

• Health Canada Reviews and Answers Comments Received on Regulatory Project 1220 – Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites
• Health Canada’s Modifications to Regulatory Project 1220 – Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergens, Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites
• Health Canada Considers Comments for Possible Exemptions from the Enhanced Labelling Requirements for Foods or Ingredients Derived from Food Allergen or Gluten Sources

1) Definition of “food allergen” and “gluten”

In the proposed amendments, food allergen and gluten are defined as:

• Food allergen: any protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction, derived from any of the following foods: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, wheat, kamut, spelt, triticale, eggs, milk, soybeans, crustaceans, shellfish or fish.

Gluten: any gluten protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction derived from the grains of the following cereals: barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, kamut or spelt. The definition would also apply to the grains of hybridized strains of the cereals listed above

2) Declaration of the food allergen or gluten source

The proposed amendments would require the declaration of food allergens or gluten sources on the label of a prepackaged product, either in the list of ingredients or in a statement beginning with the words “Allergy and Intolerance Information – Contains:”. In the case of gluten sources, it would be required that the name of the cereal grain (e.g. wheat, rye, barley, oats, triticale) be declared.

Change – HC will be removing kamut and spelt as distinct terms in the definition of “food allergen” and “gluten” and as the prescribed name of the food allergen source and gluten source. HC will be interpreting the term “wheat” to include all cereal grains from the species Triticum. This interpretation will include kamut and spelt.

Change – Health Canada will shorten the wording of the prescribed prefix to: “Contains:”.

Health Canada recognizes that wording “Contains:” statement would be more practical for industry and consumers and would harmonize with international trade practice.

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I do encourage you to read all three articles and keep up on these proposals.  It is a far cry from the original media influx that made it sound as if these were PASSED amendments in September of 2009.  Other issues have moved in our favor including the removal of exceptions to capsule casings and other items as well as, the reduction of the Grace Period for Transition/Implementation from the requested 2 years to 18 months.  Downside?  That period would START when these proposed amendments are passed.  As yet?  not a done deal.

Until then?  Keep reading your labels and using your Gut Feeling!