We want to see a world where no one is limited by coeliac disease. This is why we work with food manufacturers to ensure their products are gluten free and safe for those with coeliac disease.  
Looking for gluten free condiments for your festive meals and recipes? In 2023, we began working with Mizkan so their products Branston Pickle and Sarson’s Vinegar could display our Crossed Grain Trademark, demonstrating that they are suitable for a strict gluten free diet. 

Why is the Crossed Grain Trademark important? 

This Crossed Grain Trademark demonstrates that a product has exceeded stringent requirements and been audited to ensure they contain 20 ppm (parts per million) or less of gluten, making them safe for those living with coeliac disease to eat.  

Mizkan wanted to achieve the Crossed Grain Trademark so their customers could easily know their products are suitable for the gluten free diet.  

With 84% of you agreeing that shopping takes longer when you’re gluten free, and 75% trusting the Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten free claim, we understand how important this is to our community. 

The journey begins 

The process for obtaining the Crossed Grain Trademark is rigorous, with many steps involved to meet the high standards required.  

First, we assessed their production sites: the Sarson’s Vinegar factory in Middleton and the Branston Pickle factory in Bury St Edmunds. 

Audits and testing take place. 

Following this, we aligned our approach with the food industry’s standards and auditing processes. At the Sarson’s factory, Mizkan needed to expand their auditing scope to include products containing barley malt derivatives. At the Branston factory, a new process had to be established to meet our standards for the Crossed Grain Trademark. 

The entire process took over a year and included: 

• Verifying the raw materials in the supply chain 
• Ensuring that no cross contamination occurs during production 
• Reviewing how complaints and recalls are handled  

Success – more products are now proven as safe for those living with coeliac disease

In April 2024, Branston Pickle and Sarson’s Vinegar achieved the Crossed Grain Trademark. In June, Mizkan also achieved the Crossed Grain Trademark for both Branston Piccalilli and Sarson’s Malt Vinegar, bringing even more favourites to the gluten free community. 

Their new jars are being rolled out using a phased approach. You can expect to see Mizkan products displaying the Crossed Grain Trademark in shops from 2026. 
Katy Holder, Head of Brand & Digital for Mizkan shared:  

"Working with Coeliac UK to add a gluten free claim and the Crossed Grain Trademark to our Sarson’s vinegar and the Branston pickle products has been transformative for us and we are thrilled that the coeliac community will now be able to enjoy even more of our brands.” 

How can a product made from gluten containing grains be labelled gluten free? 

Products made from gluten containing cereals (wheat, barley and rye) can only be labelled gluten free if the gluten content is no more than 20 ppm. In the case of vinegar made from malted barley, during the fermentation process the gluten proteins in barley are hydrolysed which breaks the gluten protein into small pieces. Typically, this means that the amount of gluten left in the product is extremely low. However, you will only know if the product is suitable for a gluten free diet if the manufacturer has made a gluten free claim on their packaging. If vinegar is made from malted barley, 'barley' must be highlighted in the ingredients list. This helps consumers tell the difference between products made with ingredients that naturally do not contain gluten and those made from gluten containing grains but processed so they may be labelled gluten free. Then the consumer can make a personal choice.  
Find out more at coeliac.org.uk/barley