SGS appointed Certification Body to audit gluten-free standard

US certification company SGS has been engaged as the Certification Body to audit against the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) standards.

The GFCO audits will be conducted by SGS auditors and will cover all regions of the world.

According to SGS, the GFCO audits will be conducted either combined with SGS’ Food Safety certification audits, or as a standalone service.

The New Jersey-based company’s inspection, verification, testing and certification services are recognized as a global benchmark for quality and integrity.

Certification of assurance

The GFCO was developed by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG) in 2005 to offer independent certification services to gluten-free product producers.

Certification by GFCO is accredited to ISO 17065 and provides assurance to consumers suffering from gluten-related disorders that a product meets the strict gluten-free standards; confirms the validity of a manufacturer’s gluten-free processes; and substantiates claims.

In many instances, the GFCO standard is stricter than Codex, US, Canada, the EU and many other country standards for labeling products gluten-free.

It requires that all finished products using the GFCO logo must contain 10ppm or less of gluten.