Boston, Massachusetts – Gluten-free labels on products to take effect in accordance with consumer regulations.
Gluten-free Labels
Product packages must include gluten-free labels starting Friday, based on consumer regulations. An expert on gluten disorders said such rule is a major milestone, considering people suffering from celiac disease. A gluten-free diet is very crucial to those with such condition, similar to the importance of insulin for diabetics, said Alessio Fasano. He is the Center for Celiac Research director at Massachusetts General Hospital, and renowned author of the “Gluten Freedom” book. People suffering from celiac disease need urgent care, and the new regulation could help them significantly.
Celiac Disease
The regulation on gluten-free labels are voluntary, not mandatory. Packages containing gluten are not required to declare any of that. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that food packages labeled “free of gluten” or “gluten free” should not contain more than 20 parts per million of gluten. People suffering from celiac disease could become very sick when they consume even the tiniest amount. Gluten can be found largely in rye, barley, and wheat, although there are some sensitivities caused by gluten, such as intestinal problems, headaches, and respiratory problems. Moreover, gluten-free diets had turned into a trend, helping people with medical problems. The American Celiac Disease Association President Beth Hillson said that such diets have become a necessity and a medicine for people like herself. Celiac diets have been considered by many people and even urgent care clinics.
Gluten-free Diets
Hillson emphasized that the new rule could make people comfortable, considering her son who’s also suffering from celiac disease. However, Fasano said in a statement that people should not just try such diets because a proper medical diagnosis is still vital. The underlying effects and problems caused by gluten will be impossible if people do not consume it. About one out of 133 people in the United States have celiac disease, Fasano noted, and one might need an urgent care near me treatment, but not necessarily a gluten-free diet.
Just a Safety Net
Fasano also emphasized that gluten is primarily useless, so avoiding such content is fine. The new FDA rule is plainly one of the safety nets in finding treatment for celiac disease or in preventing the disorder. People could rely on an urgent care clinic for a gluten-free diet, but must go through a medical diagnosis first. Although gluten-free labels will take effect soon, consumers must not completely relax, but read product contents and ingredients lists carefully.
