<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

A number of individuals have emailed the ACTF regarding bills
introduced during the last Congress.

In prior years, food allergen legislation included language regarding
"gluten".

That language was dropped because NO definition could be agreed upon by
the food manufacturers, FDA, food allergy community, etc.  The food
manufacturers also made it known if the language did not come out, they
would not support the bill.  Without their support, no bill could move
forward.

A bipartisan compromise was reached.  It required labeling for the top
8 allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts,
peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.  By choosing this approach, the Senate
HELP Committee passed the bill unanimously.

This same approach will be incorporated into bills currently being
crafted.

We continue to discuss possibilities for expanding the list of
allergens, and will take advantage of any opportunity to make that
happen.  However, in order to expand the list of allergens there must
be support beyond the our community.

It is important to note that requiring 'wheat' to be listed as on the
label, means close to 90% of the labeling concerns for celiacs are
addressed.

Andrea

Andrea Levario
Co-Chair, Legislative Project
American Celiac Task Force
www.celiaccenter.org/taskforce.asp
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