Dive Brief:
- FDA is extending the comment period for the proposed rule on gluten-free labeling for fermented or hydrolyzed foods by 60 days because of a request from the public.
- The agency originally introduced the proposed rule on Nov. 18, and before the extension, the comment period would have ended Feb. 16.
- Last month, the FDA reopened the comment period for information collection issues per the Paperwork Reduction Act through Feb. 22.
Dive Insight:
Manufacturers continue to introduce gluten-free products, which now appeal far beyond the population of consumers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. In the year leading up to April 2015, one in 10 global product launches was for a gluten-free product, and that number was around 18% for the U.S.
With the expansion of gluten-free products comes the necessity for clear labeling definitions, which led to the FDA's gluten-free labeling rule in 2013, but this latest rule serves to clarify requirements for food categories that involve different forms of processing and gluten/protein detection.
This gluten-free labeling rule applies to products like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, green olives, vinegar, and FDA regulated beers. It also includes distilled products.