What Does No WBRO stand for on Product Packaging?

Category: Celiac and Food Allergy News

Learn what "No WBRO" stands for and Who's Behind the Label

Here's some valuable news for celiac disease patients, have you recently read the terms "NO WBRO" on a product's packaging? You can find it on cereal boxes, snack foods, cookies, and other processed foods in the grocery store.

It's the Celiac Sprue Association's registered trademark. They use as a special recognition seal on the product packaging  of qualified products.

It's an acronym. WBRO stands for Wheat, Barley, Rye, and Oats.

This Recognition Seal conveys at a glance that the product is officially free from wheat, barley, rye, oats, their crosses and derivatives in the product, the processing of the ingredients for that product, and in the packaging of that product. So when you find a product on the store shelves that states it has "NoWBRO" you can be assured it has been tested and backed by the Celiac Sprue Association and is safe for consumption by the celiac community.

 According to the Celiac Sprue Association:

"The Seal encourages brand loyalty and raises celiac consumer confidence. Companies applying for the Seal must provide, and CSA will consider confidential, adequate information about their ingredients and internal operations to assure their products are, and will remain, free of WBRO. Logos of participating companies are posted on the CSA website, and featured in The CSA Gluten Free Product Listing and Lifeline, CSA’s quarterly newsletter."

Companies interested in receiving a Recognition Seal can download a packet of information from the Celiac Sprue Association website. Contact the CSA office for program requirements, an application form, a formal contract, and a rate sheet for the current year. CSA staff will assist you with procedures and CSA will provide initial testing of products for verification of NoWBRO through the University of Nebraska FARRP Laboratory at no charge to the applicant.