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Dear GF Gang:
A GFGang Mom got a letter from a friend active in the Food Allergy Action
Network to enlist help in passing the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act
(s.3001), an important bill pertaining to food labeling and food allergy.
You'll  note that it includes important provisions that will make life easier
for celiacs and those who prepare food for them.  Please ask your friends,
relatives, coworkers etc to call also.
Thanks,  Amy Grabowski, GFGang co-leader, Chicago, IL area, USA



In May, Senators Edward Kennedy and Hillary Clinton introduced into Congress
the 2002 version of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.
This new version is more expansive than the earlier 2000 version, which
Representative Nita Lowey had developed with the help of FAAN and industry
groups. Specifically, the bill:

**obligates food companies to list the major allergens (including those in
spices, flavorings, and colorings) using terms commonly understood by
consumers;
**requires a report to Congress on ways to eliminate cross-contact during the
food manufacturing process; and the appropriateness of advisory labeling
("may contain" statements);
**calls on the government to conduct surveys on the preferred methods of
communicating to consumers the risk of cross-contact;
**prioritizes governmental inspections to ensure that foods comply with
practices to avoid cross-contact and that food allergens are properly
labeled;
**calls for a report on gluten and celiac disease;
**requires the government to compile and publish national data on the
prevalence of food allergy; adverse events associated with food allergy; and
different methods of treatment for and prevention of allergic responses to
foods;
**supports guidelines on preparing allergen-free foods in restaurants,
grocery store delicatessens and bakeries, and school cafeterias;
**directs the government to expand, intensify, and coordinate research on
food allergy; and provide assistance to State and local agencies in the
emergency treatment for and prevention of allergic responses to foods.
Clearly, S.3001 will benefit all individuals affected by food allergy. As a
result, we urge you to contact your U.S. Congressmen (Senators and
Representatives) TODAY and ask them to support this bill. Contact information
for your U.S. Congressmen can be found by: 1) calling the U.S. House and
Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121; OR 2) visiting the FirstGov website - <A HREF="http://www.firstgov.org/Contact.shtml">
http://www.firstgov.org/Contact.shtml</A> - and scrolling down to "Contact Your
Elected Officials." (Note: You may need your full 9-digit zip code in order
to retrieve contact information for your U.S. Representative). Remember,
there are TWO voters in your house, so both please do it.  If you want more
details on the bill,  please visit www. foodallergy.org.

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*