<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Please note, this is a three part communication. The first is this message, the second part is titled Write to Congress - a Sample Letter - Part 2, and the third part is titled Hints for Writing to Congress - Part 3 Everyone needs to help on this major campaign for improving food product labeling. I worked as a volunteer in the Gluten Intolerance Group Office today and received a telephone call that is quite important for all of the ListServ members. I was requested to spread the word to people, especially in Nebraska, that Representative Lee Terry is quite interested in the additional labeling requests. The problem is, he is not hearing from his constituents and meanwhile, the Food Industry is campaigning very heavily to avoid any additional labeling requirements. Congress members are definitely hearing from the Food Industry. We have got to make a real effort to get the Congress members attention on this. We should not let this chance to make a change escape. People in Nebraska, be sure to get your message to Republican Representative Lee Terry. He needs to hear from his constituents that there is a real need for the additional labeling to identify foods for Gluten Free status. I suggest everyone, not just those in Nebraska, be sure and get their letters off to their Congress people so that the Gluten Free Community will be heard from. The time is ripe for a change in labeling to happen. The following is a copy of the message I posted on 6-23-01 titled 2nd try - Help Influence Congress - 1st Part. Take Action! Join in this cause before it is too late! We can influence the wording of a bill before it is presented to Congress. In order for the bill to meet the needs of persons with celiac disease, we must ask for additional wording. The best way to influence and effect this change is a mass mailing of letters to your congressional representatives and senators - NOW! In response to the food allergies article in the April 2001 issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter and subsequent article and editorial in The New York Times, Representative Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) have announced they plan to introduce legislation calling for tighter regulation of food-allergens. I urge you to contact both your Representative and your two Senators this week and ask them to support this legislation. Representative Lowey has said that the legislation would require companies to list the major allergens (including those in spices, flavorings, and colorings) by their common English names, to include a telephone number on the label that consumers could call for more information, and to better prevent cross-contact between products made in the same facility or on the same production line. Her bill would also allow the FDA to assess penalties against firms that violate the food allergen requirements and require the United States Centers for Disease Control to establish a system for tracking food allergy-related deaths. In addition, the legislation should be expanded to also require companies to indicate on labels that the food may contain allergens when the possibility of contamination cannot be totally excluded. While legislators may not realize the difference between an allergy and intolerance, this bill offers us an opportunity to influence labeling that will make the job of shopping for anyone with gluten intolerance much easier. While an e-mail to your Representative and Senators is good, an ordinary mail letter is better. If you use our model e-mail, the computer will automatically send it to the proper people. If you use an ordinary mail letter and do not know the name of your Representative, you can go to www.house.gov, click on Write Your Representative in the bottom left corner, and enter your zip code. The address for Representatives is: United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. For the names of your Senators, you can go to www.senate.gov and click on List Senators by State. The address for Senators is: United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510. Representative Lowey and Senator Kennedy need bipartisan support to pass this important legislation, and so I urge you to write your own ordinary mail letter, edit the attached e-mail, or simply send the attached e-mail. (See message Sample Letter to Write to Congress - 2nd Part for attached e-mail information) Now is the time to get involved and help to take control of something that is important to all persons with gluten intolerance - CLEAR LABELS! Numbers count. Every letter makes a difference. Let us speak with one voice. Sincerely, /s/ Cynthia Kupper, CRD Executive Director, Gluten Intolerance Group www.gluten.net Thank you to everyone who is working so hard to get the food labeling improved. Submitted by: Nancy Seattle, WA USA