the low-down on Codex gluten-free wheat starch

Codex Wheat Starch

Q: What is Codex Wheat Starch?

A: Codex wheat starch should not be confused with normal wheat starch. As the name implies Codex wheat starch is made from wheat. However, what makes Codex wheat starch a suitable substitute ingredient for gluten-free products is that the wheat starch is repeatedly washed to remove the gluten - it’s as simple as that.

Q: Why do Juvela products contain Codex wheat starch?

A: It’s simply a matter of quality… many foods made with wheat have a unique taste and texture that comes from the baking properties that only wheat starch can deliver. By using Codex wheat starch (wheat from which the gluten has been removed) these products can most closely resemble wheat-containing foods in terms of taste and texture.

Taste and texture is really important, as we all want to enjoy the food we eat, and medical experts agree that products made with Codex wheat starch help make the gluten-free diet more varied, less restrictive and easier to comply with.

Q: Are Juvela products safe to eat as part of my gluten-free diet?

A: Yes, the majority of people with the coeliac condition can safely tolerate a gluten-free diet containing Codex wheat starch and have done so successfully for many years. However, a very small minority of people are considered to be sensitive and therefore their diet will need to be wheat-free as well as gluten-free and this is where the new regulations come in.

Codex Changes

Q: What is Codex and why is the standard changing?

A: The Gluten-Free Codex Standard is an internationally recognised measure set up by the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation for products using the term ‘gluten-free.’

The measure advised that products must contain less than 200 milligrams of gluten per kilo. This measure was summarised as 200 ppm (parts per million).

A new lower Codex standard is being introduced because it is now possible to detect and measure gluten at even lower trace levels than it was before. This is good news for the coeliac community and is of special benefit to those sensitive coeliacs.

Q: What is the new Gluten-Free Codex Standard?

A: There will be two categories in the new Gluten-Free Codex Standard:

Foods containing less than 20 ppm will be labelled as “gluten-free”
Foods containing between 20 and 100 ppm will be labelled as “very low gluten”

This new standard will become part of EC legislation in January 2012.

Q: How do Juvela products fit into the new Codex standard?

A: All Juvela products already fall below 20 ppm so under the new legislation Juvela products will continue to be labelled “gluten-free”.

Sensitive Coeliacs

Q: How many people with coeliac disease are “sensitive”?

A: Experts agree that only a very small number of people with the coeliac condition are “sensitive.” This small group of people with the coeliac condition who are highly sensitive to even tiny trace amounts of gluten will require that their diet needs to be wheat-free as well as gluten-free.

Q: What does a wheat-free diet mean?

A: A gluten-free diet is often confused with a wheat-free diet,but they are not the same. A wheat-free diet may not be gluten-free. The diet may exclude wheat but still contain other gluten-containing ingredients such as rye or barley.

A person with coeliac disease needs to follow a gluten-free diet which means avoiding all sources of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. This is where the confusion often arises. A sensitive coeliac will need to avoid gluten, but also any products made from a wheat base, which includes Codex wheat starch.

This distinction is important for coeliacs to understand as self-diagnosing yourself as a sensitive coeliac can cause you to unnecessarily restrict your diet more than it needs to be, limiting even further the choice of foods available to you.

If you are still unsure, please ask your dietitian to explain the differences between a gluten and wheat-free diet and how this will affect your diet.

Q: How do I find out if I am a sensitive coeliac?

A: You should already know if you are a sensitive coeliac as following diagnosis, your doctor and dietitian will have carefully assessed your individual dietary needs.

At diagnosis your dietitian will have asked you to try a variety of gluten-free products on your prescription. Once established on a normal gluten-free diet, which includes Codex wheat starch, malt extract and pure oats, your dietitian would have assessed your individual tolerance. If you were exhibiting “sensitive” tendencies they would have advised you to follow both a gluten-free and a wheat-free diet. If you are still unsure then please talk with your local healthcare team.

The Juvela Seal of Quality

All Juvela products have been rigorously tested and meet the strict criteria laid down by Codex
Juvela guarantee that all its gluten-free foods are specifically made for people with the coeliac condition to enjoy as part of a healthy, well balanced gluten-free diet
All Juvela products are nutritionally sound containing nutrients beneficial to coeliacs including, fibre, calcium, iron and B-vitamins including folic acid.
All Juvela products have achieved prescription status and have been approved for medical purposes
All Juvela foods are free from genetically modified ingredients