ALS Resolution: Labeling of Spelt Products with Indications such as "Ancient Wheat"
Mar 16, 2022 - Foods
ALS Resolution: Labeling of Spelt Products with Indications such as "Ancient Wheat"
The use of spelt instead of wheat in products such as bread, pasta, and cookies is very popular among both food manufacturers and consumers. Some of these products feature claims about the originality of spelt. Examples include “ancient wheat” or “ancient wheat variety.” But do such claims comply with food regulations?
The Working Group of Food Chemical Experts (ALS) addressed this question in its 117th meeting (Statement No. 2021/21). According to this, an assessment as misleading depends on the type of spelt used. Only if the manufacturer can prove that exclusively traditional spelt varieties were used is a claim with “ancient wheat” possible.
A spelt variety is considered traditional if it was cultivated up to around the year 1900. For later cultivations, crossings with common wheat and mutation breeding can be expected. Here, a claim as “ancient wheat” is no longer possible.
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct labeling tests. We provide you with fast and reliable results.
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