(Washington DC) – The TTB issued this statement…guidance…quasi-warning…whatever you want to call it…late last week. The FDA recently released official guidance on the use of ‘gluten-free’ in food labeling. Now it’s the TTB to follow up with its own guidance for alcoholic beverage makers. We went into depth on the gluten-free issue a few weeks back.

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We are currently reviewing our policy on gluten content statements in the labeling and advertising of wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages in light of the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) final rule on the use ofthe term “gluten‐free” for products under FDA’s labeling jurisdiction.

While we are reviewing this, we would like to remind industry members that TTB Ruling 2012‐2, Interim Policy on Gluten Content Statements in the Labeling and Advertising of Wines, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages, is still in force for alcohol beverage products that are subject to TTB’s labeling regulations under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.