Gluten Free @ The GF Lolly Co.
Hi! I’m Nadine – the owner and sole operator of The GF Lolly Co., a fully gluten free online lolly shop based in Brisbane, Australia.
Since launching in February 2022, I’ve proudly catered to thousands of Coeliacs – earning your trust is truly an honour. Whether you’re Coeliac or simply avoiding gluten, you can shop with complete peace of mind. There is absolutely no cross-contamination in my environment, making it a safe space for people with food allergies and intolerances.
Just remember to check the allergen filters or read the product descriptions to confirm suitability for your dietary needs.
My Gluten Free Standards
Although I’m not the manufacturer, I personally read every ingredient list before adding a product to the store. I prioritise transparency by including ingredient and allergen details on every product page.
Most of my wonderful customers are on a strict gluten free diet, and I’m beyond grateful for your support – you’re the reason The GF Lolly Co. exists!
Gluten Free Labelling in Australia
Did you know Australia and New Zealand have the strictest gluten free labelling standards in the world?
For a product to be labelled “Gluten Free” in Australia/NZ, it must test below 3 parts per million (ppm) of gluten using certified lab equipment. This is why some products you know are gluten free (like Skittles) don’t always have the label on the packaging - manufacturers simply don’t test to this level.
Quick Facts:
- Coeliac Australia only recognises gluten free claims if gluten is undetectable (below 3ppm).
- Gluten testing can cost around $70 per product (2022 figure), making it challenging for smaller businesses to certify.
Internationally, the bar is different. In places like the US, UK, and EU, a product is considered gluten free if it tests below 20ppm – a standard supported by leading Coeliac researchers and widely adopted by overseas brands.
How I Categorise Gluten Free Products
At The GF Lolly Co., products are only included if they fall under one of the following categories:
1. Gluten Free – Australian/NZ Labelled
Products made in Australia or New Zealand and labelled Gluten Free are held to a rigorous standard:
<3ppm (0.0003%) – the strictest in the world.
2. Gluten Free – International Labelled
International brands may be labelled “Gluten Free” under local standards, which require:
<20ppm (0.002%)
These products are marked as:
- GLUTEN FREE [NIL DETECTED] – tested and compliant with overseas standards.
- GLUTEN FREE [BY INGREDIENT] – not tested, but contain no gluten ingredients and no “may contain” statements.
3. Gluten Free – By Ingredient
These products contain no gluten-containing ingredients (wheat, barley, rye, oats, malt, etc.).
*Wheat in the form of Glucose, Glucose Syrup, Dextrose, Maltose, Maltodextrin, Caramel Colour and Monosodium Glutamate are Gluten Free. The production methods of these ingredients involve a high level of hydrolysation, which means that there is no gluten present in the final product. Wheat Starch can be gluten free if the production method can successfully remove the gluten. However, this cannot be proven without testing. Otherwise, Wheat Starch should be avoided if not confirmed, or else the risk of gluten presence is too high, which is unsafe for Coeliac consumption.
✅ I stock products made with wheat starch only from one trusted Australian manufacturer. Their products are routinely tested to 5ppm sensitivity, and have never returned a positive result since 2015.
Confirmed through direct communication with Gordon Kerr, Head of Food Technology, and myself (Nadine), between 2022–2025.
These products are a favourite in the Coeliac community - many say they’re a close match to old-school Allen’s lollies.
What the Labels Mean on My Website
Each product has one of the following in the description:
- GLUTEN FREE [NIL DETECTED] – tested and shown to contain <3ppm or <20ppm gluten, depending on the country of origin
-
GLUTEN FREE [BY INGREDIENT] – contains no gluten ingredients and no known cross-contamination risk
Understanding Less Than 20 Parts Per Million (PPM)
"It is a common misconception that foods labelled “gluten-free” can or do contain zero parts per million (ppm) of gluten. At this time, no validated tests are able to accurately detect gluten at zero. Less than 20 ppm is an amount that has been deemed safe by celiac disease experts for most people living with the genetic autoimmune disease." (BeyondCeliac.org)
In 2011, Beyond Celiac Scientific/Medical Advisory Council Member Dr. Alessio Fasano of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital (formerly at the University of Maryland), wrote a letter called “In Defense of 20 Parts Per Million.” In this letter, Dr. Fasano explains why this amount has been deemed safe for most people with celiac disease.
In Closing
At The GF Lolly Co., your safety and confidence mean everything to me. I carefully select and verify every product so you can shop without worry.
If you have questions about any product or ingredient, feel free to reach out:
📧 info@thegflollyco.com.au