Call for Scientific Papers on Gluten-Free Beer

Brussels, November 2024 –The Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) is calling for scientific papers on gluten-free beer, urging the global research community to address pressing uncertainties in the analysis of hydrolysed gluten in products like beer. Focus areas include enhancing gluten detection methods, developing accurate calibrants for peptide analysis, and advancing clinical studies on gluten immunogenicity. This initiative aims to improve gluten safety in hydrolysed foods, particularly in beer.

Why This Call for Papers?

Current testing methods for hydrolysed gluten-free foods, including the R5 competitive ELISA, have limitations and high costs, complicating broad industry adoption. More research is needed to validate methods such as LC-MS/MS and explore new analytical and calibration approaches.

Key Questions to Researchers

1. New Analytical Methods
Alternative methods for gluten detection in hydrolysed products, especially in beer, are needed. Current options, while promising, lack validation for precise quantification.

2. Appropriate Calibrants
Suitable calibrants are essential for accurate peptide quantification. Research is needed to create standards that differentiate protein and peptide profiles effectively.

3. Clinical Studies
The effects of residual gluten peptides must be studied through ethically designed clinical approaches, prioritising patient safety and non-consumption models.

Timeframe and Participation

This call is open to research groups focused on gluten-free beer and its implications for coeliacs. Preference is given to those with recommendations from an AOECS National Coeliac Society. National Coeliac Societies conducting gluten-free beer research are also encouraged to participate.

Submission Deadline: 28 April 2025
Full guidelines are available on the AOECS website.