Gluten First For RSSL

Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is the first laboratory in the UK to offer a UKAS accredited test for trace levels of gluten as part of its allergens testing portfolio. The company has also added sulphite analysis to its analytical services and hence offers a complete testing package for all of the main allergens listed in recent EU legislation.

The UKAS accredited gluten test uses an antibody raised against gliadin, a component of the gluten molecule, which is extremely heat stable and can withstand various processing conditions.

According to figures produced by Coeliac UK, around one in eighty people in the UK is affected by gluten or wheat intolerance. Gluten intolerance (Celiac Sprue) is the result of an immuno-mediated response to the ingestion of gluten that causes inflammatory disorders in the small intestine.

In addition to gaining accreditation for its own testing, RSSL has recently assisted Nutrition Point, one of the UK's leading 'gluten-free' food processors to establish its own testing facility.