Expert consultation to establish reference doses for gluten-containing cereals

To advance this work, FAO and WHO are hosting an ad hoc Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Reference Dose(s) (RfDs) for Cereals Containing Gluten or Gluten. The meeting, being held between the 3rd and 7th of November, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, brings together international experts to provide scientific advice in response to a request from the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Building on a series of FAO/WHO expert meetings since 2020, this consultation focuses on establishing reference doses (RfDs), the levels below which most individuals with coeliac disease are unlikely to experience adverse reactions.

The objectives include:

Reviewing available scientific data to determine safe reference doses for gluten-containing cereals;

Assessing the implications for current “gluten-free” labelling thresholds;

Providing guidance for food business operators on minimizing cross-contact during production; and

Identifying appropriate analytical methods and performance criteria for detecting gluten in foods and on surfaces.

The outcomes will help strengthen global food safety standards and support evidence-based decision-making for both regulators and industry.