Gluten Intolerance Group Adds SCS Global Services as Accredited Certifier for Gluten-Free Certification Organization

AUBURN, Wash. — The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has accredited SCS Global Services (SCS), an internationally recognized third-party certification body, to provide Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) services to food and beverage companies. GFCO, an industry program of GIG, helps manufacturers earn consumer confidence in their products and manufacturing facilities—keys to being successful in the expanding gluten-free market. The announcement highlights the global growth in the demand for certified gluten-free products, which is projected to reach $6.2 billion this year.

“With SCS Global Services serving as a certifying body, we are looking forward to companies having greater reach and more flexibility in obtaining gluten-free certification,” said Cynthia Kupper, CEO of GIG. “We are excited that working with SCS Global Services expands our reach in the international market, allowing more consumer goods manufacturers to provide products that are gluten-free certified.”

SCS Global Services, headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., is one of the world’s pioneering food safety certifiers and provides a full suite of food quality, food safety, organic, non-GMO and sustainability certifications, along with industry training services. SCS is ISO-17065 certified by the American National Standards Institute.

“We are very pleased to join GIG in offering GFCO certification,” said Brandon Nauman, associate managing director in SCS’ Food and Agriculture Division. “Companies can pursue gluten-free certification alone or combine it with other product certifications in a highly efficient manner to satisfy a broad range of customer specifications and consumer market demand.”

GFCO is the largest and fastest growing gluten-free certification organization in North America, stricter than Codex, USA, Canada, the EU and many other country standards for labeling products gluten-free. The GFCO standard requires that finished products contain 10 parts per million or less of gluten. To assure compliance, all ingredients undergo stringent review, and finished products, high-risk raw materials and equipment are subject to independent testing. Tens of thousands of products domestically and internationally are certified to the standard.

About Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG)

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association funded by private donations, fundraising, sponsorship opportunities and industry programs. It relies on tax-deductible contributions to support its many innovative industry, service, social and awareness programs. GIG has been a highly respected leader in the gluten-free community since it was founded in 1974. In addition to more than 70 local branches across the United States, GIG has increased its presence internationally to over 29 countries. GIG empowers the gluten-free community through consumer support, advocacy and education. The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), a program of GIG, is a leader in the verification of quality, integrity and purity of gluten-free products. The Gluten-Free Food Services (GFFS) Certification Program is a proven model of established best practices for food service facilities offering gluten-free options. GIG is committed to ongoing food safety research to assure customers and consumers the highest level of excellence in its gluten-free programs and services. For information, visit www.gluten.org.

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services (SCS) has provided global leadership in third-party quality, environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in food and agriculture, green building, product manufacturing, natural resources extraction, and more. SCS is a chartered benefit corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices, and recipient of the 2018 Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Award. For more information, visit www.scsglobalservices.com.