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At the present time, a comprehensive food allergen labeling bill has not
been introduced in Congress. Key staff are working to revise the bill
which passed the Senate HELP Committee last year.

The American Celiac Task Force (ACTF), established earlier this year, is
actively working toward the enactment of Federal legislation to declare
food allergens on product labels. Members of the Task Force include
manufacturers of gluten-free foods, support groups, medical centers with
celiac disease services and programs, and specialty organizations
serving the celiac community. Volunteers for the ACTF are in Washington,
DC and have been meeting with Congressional staff, sharing information
about the most recent research, and discussing food labeling issues.

While we wait for a bill to be introduced, legislators need to be
educated. They need to know what celiac disease is, and how it affects
individuals. The American Celiac Task Force is encouraging individuals
to send the letter below to their Representatives, and Senators. If you
are not sure who represents you -- go to www.house.gov or www.senate.gov
to find out. Finally, and most important -- to be effective, the celiac
community must be unified. Disparate messages create confusion, and
leave the impression the celiac community is unclear about its needs.
Lawmakers can use this as leverage to oppose our position.

"The Honorable (Your Representative) United States House of
Representatives Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable (Your Senator) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Representative / Senator (NAME);

I am writing to you on behalf of (your company/organization name), a
member of the American Celiac Task Force, to ask your support for
changes to our national labeling laws related to allergens and gluten,
and to share information about celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting children and adults.
People with celiac disease are unable to eat foods that contain gluten,
which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. These grains are used as
ingredients in many foods, or are processed into other ingredients that
in turn are included in foods. In people with celiac disease, eating
gluten sets off an autoimmune reaction that causes damage to the small
intestine. Untreated celiac disease can be life threatening, and has
been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It can lead to growth failure in children. For
adults, it is known to cause osteoporosis, anemia, infertility and
depression. The only known treatment for celiac disease is adherence to
a strict, life-long gluten-free diet.

Until recently, celiac disease in the United States was thought to be
rare. However, the Archives of Internal Medicine, February 2003,
published the results of a new, multi-center study led by the University
of Maryland Center for Celiac Research, which indicates that celiac
disease can affect one in every 133 Americans (1.5 million people). This
makes celiac disease twice as common as Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis and cystic fibrosis combined.

Current labeling laws do not adequately address the needs of persons
with celiac disease or food allergies. Because gluten is a binding
protein, it can be used in many food products, which would make them
unsafe for celiacs to eat. Food processors do not define gluten the same
as the medical community. Therefore, a person with celiac disease might
not recognize some ingredients as containing gluten, when reading a food
label. If the label is unclear, persons with celiac disease must contact
the food company each time they want to use a product to determine its
safety. The end result is even greater restrictions on the availability
of foods for our diet.

I hope that you will support efforts to improve the labeling of foods,
so that individuals with celiac disease can be assured that the foods
they select are truly safe to
eat.


Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your name"

Andrea S. Levario
Co-Chair, Legislative Project
American Celiac Task Force
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