News & Events
Advisory Labels - Do They Affect Your Food Choices?
Share Your Comments With the FDA
One of the major dilemmas for the celiac community is how to deal with advisory labels on foods. Many choose to completely avoid products which display statements such as ‘produced in the same plant with wheat products,’ or ‘may contain wheat.’ Others may take a different approach based on personal experience. Regardless of the approach, these statements are a concern. We now have the opportunity to tell the FDA what we really think about such labeling.
It is important to remember that the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) deals only with intentional substances, i.e. individual ingredients, added to foods. It wasn’t intended to address cross-contact or cross-contamination which occurs when unintentional substances show up in food. This is one reason why the FDA is addressing allergen advisory labeling.
The FDA held a public hearing on the "Use of Allergen Advisory Labeling: Its Use, Effectiveness, and Consumer Perception Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 16, 2008.
NOW: The agency is also soliciting comments on a series of questions which can be found in the Federal Register.
Individuals may submit comments electronically, the Docket # is FDA-2008-N-0429.
Written comments may be sent to:
- Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
- Food and Drug Administration
- 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
- Rockville, MD 20852
All comments must be received by January 14, 2009.
