Does anyone test food for gluten on request in UK?

Hi, I've heard the Australian coeliac society run tests for gluten in foods that have glutened people but claim to be gluten free - they offer this as part of their service. In US I've seen someone called Gluten Free Watchdog who does similar. Do we have anyone in UK who does this?

I'm perplexed by the number of foods labelled 'gluten free' in UK that still make people with coeliac ill. I am more perplexed to find out that you can label a product gluten free without even testing that it is actually gluten free. I don't mean the usual suspects of crappy gluten free ranges that live in the gluten free section which we know are a nightmare for many - I mean the basic single ingredient products/basic food items that should be safe.

Most recent experience - tahini. I avoid all 'gluten-free' processed foods, but find tahini excellent as it has lots of calcium, minerals, etc. It only contains one ingredient - sesame seed. I even go for the organic range to stay extra healthy. I have tried a number of ranges of tahini, all have been fine. I buy a jar of tahini from Amazon - organic tahini, with a lovely gluten free assertion. Two spoonfuls and I have a gluten reaction. Clearly not as safe for gluten as they assert.

I've told Amazon, and they have refunded and removed the product from their site. I've contacted the company but do not anticipate a response - seems to be a shiny-fronted import company, so I would doubt any regulations for anything in place.

So, if I wished to send this product/sample of this product to someone to have it tested for the actual gluten content - who might I send it to in the UK?

[nellie237]

Hello Benjamin, Well, we know that Coeliac UK won't help unless its on their list of GF products. As a last resort, you could try Trading Standards. Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden in reply to nellie237]

Thanks Nellie234. Spoke to food standards agency who directed me to my local council food safety. I fear a circle of going nowhere with this one, but we really could do with such a food testing service

[nellie237 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Benjamin,

I think you are probably right, sadly.

[Tabbyme in reply to Hidden]

I had this problem with some psyllium husk. My supplier though did assure me that it should be okay but I know it wasn't and had to chuck it. Haven't dared get any more since as I can't afford another binning lol, but I also searched high and low for somewhere to get it tested. I did find something but it was way out of my reach affordability wise😢. If you ever do find somewhere please let me know.

[jox1]

A label saying GF means that the product contains less than 20 ppm gluten - so GF products are not really gluten free just at a level where most people may not react. To be sure you really need to eat natural with nothing pre-processed and introduce those foods one at a time to see if you do react .....

[Hidden in reply to jox1]

Thanks, yes, totally onboard with all that. This is product that is not labelled GF but asserts on Amazon and on retailers website that it is gluten free. They are arguing the toss that it's fine, but it's not. I think generally we need a testing service as too much cross contamination going around and Food Standards/Local Authorities doing naff all.

[Penel]

Hello Benjamin

There seem to be a few tests on the market you can do yourself.

verywellhealth.com/gluten-d...

I’m afraid that organisations such as Food Standards have lost so much funding over several years that they are hard pressed to even cover the basics.

[Hidden in reply to Penel]

That's a good point Penel. I did order home test kits about a year ago, and gave them a bash but they didn't seem to work very well, if at all - test tube scenario with various testing fluids that had to be added. Coeliac UK said they are not testing properly - they said testing has to happen with a growth medium and takes a few weeks to determine results. All very strange.

[BabsyWabsy]

In UK your local authority should have a County Analyst who may be able to help. Initially, your complaint needs to go through Citizens Advice Bureau. Here is a link to what happens in my area. wyjs.org.uk/trading-standar...

[Hidden in reply to BabsyWabsy]

Many thanks