When is food permitted to be marked as gluten free?
Food containing a maximum of 20 milligrams of gluten per kilogram may be labelled as gluten free. This threshold value is binding across the European Union. As a rule, gluten-free foodstuffs are marked with the symbol of the crossed-out ear of wheat. This label is awarded by the German Coeliac Society. Although no audits or certifications are carried out, the standards are stipulated by the AOECS Standard (AOECS = Association of European Coeliac Societies). Incidentally, gluten is virtually the only allergen which is regulated by law.