Gluten-Free Certifications
Currently there are three organizations located in the United States that certify gluten-free products. Those certifications include Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), and National Celiac Association (NCA). All three have different requirements, some more stringent than other. The following information supplies the Standards for those manufacturers that they certify.
Gluten Intolerance Group/Gluten-Free Certification Organization
|
Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is supported by Gluten Intolerance Group, Inc.
GFCO 2018 catalog list of certified products |
|
Certification Standards:
GFCO requires that all finished products using the GFCO Logo contain 10ppm or less of gluten.
All manufacturing plants producing GFCO certified products undergo, at minimum, an annual inspection and are required to submit finished product testing on a regular basis for the GFCO for review.
Compliance with all government regulations for allergens, gluten-free labeling and Good Manufacturing Practices is required.
GFCO requires that all finished products using the GFCO Logo contain 10ppm or less of gluten.
- All ingredients utilized in GFCO certified products are required to go through a stringent review process of approval. All ingredients must contain 10ppm or less of gluten.
- Barley-based ingredients are not allowed in GFCO certified products
All manufacturing plants producing GFCO certified products undergo, at minimum, an annual inspection and are required to submit finished product testing on a regular basis for the GFCO for review.
Compliance with all government regulations for allergens, gluten-free labeling and Good Manufacturing Practices is required.
- GFCO is not a substitution for meeting the legal requirements set by a government.
- GFCO standard is stricter than Codex, USA, Canada, the EU and many other country standards for labeling products gluten-free.
|
Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), is operated by Allergen Control Group and the Canadian Celiac Assosciation , Inc and endorsed by Beyond Celiac (formerly National Foundation for Celiac Association).
Click below for a list of brands certified through GFCP: Certified Brands HERE |
|
Certification Standards:
USA with use of the Beyond Celiac (BC) Trademark:
USA with use of the Beyond Celiac (BC) Trademark:
- The intentional or inadvertent introduction of any wheat, including spelt and kamut, or barley, rye, triticale or any part thereof, and
- The contamination from any source, which would result in final products having < 20 ppm of gluten, or more as measured by appropriate and acceptable methods of testing. (e.g. Elisa® R5 (Mendez)) (Note: individual ingredients must contain <20 ppm)
- Gluten control procedures are reviewed annually
|
National Celiac Assosciation is known as the most stringent testing, with the final product testing at 5 ppm or less. Click below for a list of brands certified through NCA:
Certified Brands HERE |
|
Certification Standards:
- Gluten-free foods may not contain any wheat (all species) barley, rye, oats, all crossbred varieties and derivatives (WBRO)
- Products test at 5 ppm of gluten or less
- Gluten control procedures are tested annually
Articles on Gluten-Free Certifications