Many worries over the contents of processed and prepackaged foods center on the high levels of saturation of ingredients that might otherwise seem innocuous. Recently, New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey co-authored a piece in the Huffington Post calling for a better approach when it comes to making regulated gluten-free food available to consumers. A main concern voiced in the article was the effect of insufficient food labeling on those with celiac disease, who are unable to eat gluten.
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness reports on their official website that although roughly 1 percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease, more than 80 percent of those who have it may not be correctly diagnosed. This condition has been gaining some attention in recent years, especially in conjunction with an increased general focus on the potential for negative health effects in the processed food industry.
Lowey, who wrote the article alongside Dr. Alessio Fasano, emphasized the important role proper labeling plays in making sure sufferers of this disease are ensured proper, nutritious diets.
“The reason gluten-free labeling is so important is that just as a diabetic must take insulin to survive, a person with celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet in order to remain healthy,” the authors say in their article. “These people must be able to trust food labels and know that when a food is labeled ‘gluten-free,’ it really is gluten-free.”
Aside from the standard labels that usually appear on food and beverage items, there are a variety of additional types of specialty labels that producers should be aware of, and these require particular attention when it comes to design and placement. The Primera LX900 color label printer can offer solutions when it comes to such critical, specific situations.
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