One aspect of food packaging may change in the US in order to bring it in line with regulations introduced for printed labels in Europe.

Senators Ron Eyden and Patrick Leahy have written to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to demand why a proposed rule on tolerable gluten thresholds for gluten-free foods has not yet been passed, Food Navigator reports.

It was suggested in the country's Food Allergen Labelling and Consumer Protection Act 2004 that a food could not be classed as gluten-free if it contained any more than 20mg per kilogram.

However, nothing has yet been formally agreed and the senators claim this is causing problems, as well as an array of 'gluten-free standards' on peelable labels devised by companies themselves.

"This creates confusion for consumers and hesitancy among producers on what their requirements will be," they added.

In Europe, the Codex Commission defined the gluten threshold as 20ppm in 2008.

Gluten is derived from wheat, but it triggers an immune reaction in people with coeliac disease and can damage the intestines.

Denny Bros Ltd, 01 August 2011