Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- An organic-food company founded by a daughter of the late actor Paul Newman needs to spell out that spelt, an ancient grain enjoying a revival, is wheat, U.S. regulators said.

The Food and Drug Administration warned Newman’s Own Organics in a letter that packages of the company’s spelt pretzels fail to note “the presence of wheat.” Wheat must be disclosed because it can trigger allergies, according to the agency’s letter, dated Dec. 22 and posted today on its Web site.

The labels on the bags of pretzels describe spelt as “an entirely different species” from wheat, according to the agency. That’s true, the FDA says. Even so, spelt and wheat are close enough because they both belong to the genus Triticum, the agency says. The term “wheat,” the FDA says “means any species in the genus ‘Triticum.’”

Spelt was cultivated during the Bronze Age and was a staple among the ancient Romans, according to a study on file with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. The crop is native to southern Europe and western Asia. Several organic- foods companies promote spelt as more nutritious and flavorful than ordinary wheat.

Peter Meehan, the company’s chief executive officer, said in a telephone interview that the pretzels’ packaging will change. The closely held organics company is based in Aptos, California. It was started by Newman’s daughter Nell in 1993 as a division of Newman’s Own, the food company founded in Westport, Connecticut, by her father and a partner. In 2000, the organics company became independent.

To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Blum in Washington at jblum4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 6, 2009 15:02 EST