Gluten-free certification available

Enjoy Life Natural Brands, Schiller Park, Ill., is the first company to receive certification and use the Gluten-Free Certification Organization’s (GFCO) Certification Mark on its packaging.

Reflecting the growing number of consumers with special dietary needs, GFCO was created to offer food manufacturers an independent service to supervise gluten-free production.

Gluten is a protein found in most grains that mainly affects people with celiac disease. According to the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, celiac disease is considered one of the most under-diagnosed common diseases, affecting about one in every 133 Americans.

Bakeries, such as Enjoy Life Natural Brands, which produces and markets cookies, snack bars, breads and bagels, have seen significant sales spikes as concerns about food allergies become more prominent. For Enjoy Life Natural Brands, the certification process was simple because the company runs a dedicated plant free of common allergens. Other bakeries that produce a mix of gluten-free and traditional bakery foods may have a more difficult time obtaining certification.

Food Services Inc., a subsidiary of the Orthodox Union, one of the world’s largest kosher certification agencies, conducts annual certifications, which include ingredient reviews, on-site inspections and product testing. GFCO strongly recommends dedicated gluten-free lines, as even the most thorough cleaning can lead to cross-contamination.

A product carrying the gluten-free Certification Mark assures consumers that the product contains less than 10 parts per million gluten. Bakers interested in learning more about GFCO or obtaining the Certification Mark can go to http://www.gfco.org/.