According to Pawan Aggarwal, CEO of FSSAI, currently many producers incorrectly label their products as ‘low gluten’ in order to increase their sales.
“A food product meant for wheat allergy patients has to be gluten-free. It can’t have low gluten and that’s why we have proposed to ban such labeling,” he said.
He added the FSSAI plans to conduct surprise inspections to verify whether producers are selling totally gluten-free products, when using the claim.
“We have to ensure there is no cross contamination,” said Aggarwal.
Impending epidemic
Once considered a Western disease, wheat intolerance has now become an ‘impending epidemic in India’ by health experts.
A study published in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology found 22% of patients tested for food allergies in Kolkata, India, showed a positive response to wheat allergens.
According to Celiac India, the disease is virtually non-existent in southern Indian but prevalent in the North Indian population where wheat is primarily grown and eaten as a staple.
In 2010, a study revealed the prevalence of celiac disease in the north Indian community was one in 96 persons, but there is an increasing incidence of the disease in India.
“Celiac disease is more common than is recognized in India,” wrote the authors.
“Avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the best way to deal with food allergy.”
Studies
Prevalence of celiac disease in the northern part of India: A community based study
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Authors: Govind Makharia, Anil Verma, Ritvik Amarchand, et al
First published: December 23, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06606
Increasing incidence of celiac disease in India
Authors: Ajit Sood, Vandana Midha, Neena Sood, et al
American Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume 96, pages 2804–2805 (2001)