Contact: Jennifer North
Vice President, National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
215-325-1306 x108
[email protected]

September 8, 2014, Ambler, PA – The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), a non-profit organization serving individuals with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders, announced that Walmart’s new Great Value gluten-free line of products has been reviewed and certified to be within the FDA’s 20 ppm gluten threshold by the NFCA-endorsed Gluten Free Certification Program (GFCP).

While we have seen an explosion of gluten-free products available, we still hear that there is difficulty in finding affordable gluten-free options,” says Alice Bast, President and CEO of the NFCA. This commitment by Walmart to offer Great Value gluten-free products in 3,000 stores nationwide, at affordable prices, is a game changer for the gluten-free community.”

The GFCP, a cross-border certification program also available in Canada, provides protection for those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity by ensuring that approved gluten-free products, like those included in Walmart’s Great Value line, are safe to consume based on the industry’s most stringent gluten-free requirements. Annual certification audits conducted by internationally recognized auditing firms provide rigorous, third party analysis that exceed government standards for gluten-free labeling.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects an estimated 1 in 133 Americans. Eighty-three percent of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The disease can cause debilitating symptoms and, if left untreated, lead to life-threatening health conditions. There is no cure, but celiac disease can be treated with a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.

NFCA advocates on behalf of the millions of Americans suffering from celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders who are frustrated by the uncertainty of identifying gluten-free products that are essential to their well-being.

To learn more about the NFCA endorsed Gluten-Free Certification Program, visit www.gf-cert.org.

About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves the quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. For more information visit www.beyondceliac.org.

About the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP)
The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) is the only North American voluntary certification program designed for manufacturers of gluten-free food, drug and pharmaceutical products that is endorsed in both the U.S. and Canada by leading patient advocacy groups: the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) in Canada and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in the U.S. Based on a robust, third-party audit certification process at the manufacturing facility, the GFCP trademark verifies their ability to regularly meet the stringent GFCP requirements when managing gluten as part of their food safety programs. Consumers can shop with confidence by selecting the safe, reliable and gluten-free products displaying the GFCP trademark. www.glutenfreecert.com.