Reading labels

By using your Food and Drink Directory you will build up a knowledge of which foods are safe to eat - but you can also tell what foods are safe by reading the labels.

All pre-packaged foods bought in the UK are covered by the current EU wide food labelling legislation. This means that any gluten cereal used as a deliberate ingredient in a product must appear on the ingredients list, regardless of the amount used.
 
Manufacturers will name the specific cereal grain e.g. 'wheat', 'rye', 'barley'; or some will use the word gluten as well e.g. 'wheat gluten'.

This information must be declared in the ingredients list, whereas the 'allergy advice' box e.g. 'contains gluten' is only a recommendation, and is not compulsory.

Therefore it is important that anyone following a gluten-free diet check both the ingredients list and 'allergy advice' box (if used).

Use our ingredients' checklist for further information.

For more information on allergen labelling contact the Food Standards Agency.