SPINS’ David Browne to offer expert commentary to the FDA on gluten-free labeling
David Browne, our Director of Content Services, will be speaking for SPINS on behalf of the Natural Products industry at an upcoming FDA public hearing on gluten-free labeling. The all-day session will take place on August 19th in Washington, DC and will focus on the counsel of expert stakeholders regarding gluten levels in food as they relate to food manufacturing, analytical methods, and consumer issues. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the agency as it defines and permits the voluntary use of the term "gluten-free" on food labeling.
Gluten is a protein that can be found in all forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, and faro), and related grains, rye, barley, and triticale. For people with Celiac Disease, a lifelong autoimmune disorder, ingesting gluten causes a toxic reaction that damages the mucosal surface of the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. An estimated one in 133 Americans suffer from Celiac Disease, and it’s believed that the disease is still under-diagnosed. (Source: Celiac Disease Foundation).
The FDA is interested in research data and findings on the purchase behavior of consumers with Celiac disease and their caregivers. The administration would like to compare purchases of packaged products labeled or marketed as "gluten-free" to those that are unlabeled as such.
SPINS’ team of Natural Product Experts has already fully coded more than 2,000 items across relevant food categories for "gluten-free" labeling information. This includes Gluten-free labeled, Gluten-free non labeled, and Gluten-free pending for those products whose manufacturers plan to incorporate gluten-free labeling. SPINS coding will reflect new FDA labeling standards once they are launched and implemented.
At the hearing, Director David Browne will use this coding to provide topline reports outlining Sales, Share, and Growth vs. Total Category Sales for the current 52-week period vs. the prior 52 weeks. He will also summarize findings from his team's gluten-free labeling research on over 10,000 brands and items.
"SPINS is very excited about the opportunity to contribute to such an important initiative at this FDA hearing, helping those individuals whose health and quality of life will clearly benefit from a set of strong labeling standards," said Browne.
If you are interested in learning more about SPINS new coding for gluten-free products, (available Fall, 2005), please contact your Regional Account Manager or Diana Dixon at 815.609.0607 or ddixon@spins.com.