Bruce Blakeman Supports MAHA Strategy Report and Calls for Trump Administration to Issue Rulemaking to Declare Gluten a Major Food Allergen
- Jon Bari
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and candidate for Governor of New York, joined young Celiac Disease advocates from New York and Pennsylvania to call on the Trump Administration to Make America Healthy Again for 3.3 million Americans with Celiac. Blakeman urged the Trump Administration to take next steps following the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report by issuing common sense rulemaking to require the labeling of Gluten (Barley, Rye and Oats) as Major Food Allergens on all packaged foods in the United States. Joining Blakeman were Jax Bari (age 12) and Jude Leibson (age 11) who shared their life experience with Celiac Disease and common sense solution on labeling.
"There are almost three million people in America that have Celiac, and of that 750,000
of them are children. So this is a very important health issue! I'm delighted that Nassau County, a county larger than 10 states in population, is taking the lead in this. We have spoken with the White House. We have communicated with Secretary Kennedy's office. We are going to be strong advocates for labeling... We want you guys [Jax and Jude] to know that we're behind you 100%!... These are individuals who need to know what they are eating, otherwise they can get very sick... we are here today to discuss an issue about Making America Healthy Again, and that's what these guys are all about... It's a common sense solution! We're not talking about anything that requires a tremendous amount of effort. We are just talking about labeling so people can be informed when they ingest food products and make sure that there is not something that is poison to them... I think that we should do everything in our power to make sure that everybody that has this disease has the ability to pick and choose what they want to eat so that they don't get sick."
-- Bruce Blakeman
Background
We are grateful that the MAHA Commission met with Jax in August 2025 and listened to his common sense solution to become one of the 128 bold initiatives in the MAHA Strategy Report.
The Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report recognized Celiac Disease and the need for Gluten labeling. This was a first for any White House, Democrat or Republican. It’s common sense, actionable, bipartisan, and not controversial.
The MAHA Strategy Report was a huge step! But we can’t stop now! We need President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to continue the MAHA momentum.
87 other countries already require that Gluten ingredients be declared on all food labels. However, the United States does not. Since 2006, only Wheat has been required to be labeled in the U.S., but not Barley, Rye and Oats.
The mandatory labeling of Barley, Rye, and Oats would dramatically improve safety and quality of life for the 3.3 million Americans living with Celiac.
Kids and families with Celiac deserve transparency and protection -- and we’ll keep fighting until Gluten is officially recognized as a Major Food Allergen.
Jax has joined forces with kids around the country calling for change including Jude Leibson, a 6th grader in Nassau County, New York. Jax and Jude are speaking out on real-life kitchen table issues with new ways to Make America Healthy Again.
Speakers
Joining Bruce Blakeman in calling for the Trump Administration to require Gluten labeling, were the following people (click on the links below to watch their remarks at the press conference):
Jax Bari, Co-Founder, Celiac Journey (video timestamp 13:41)
Jon Bari, Co-Founder, Celiac Journey (video timestamp 19:19)
Dr. Andrew Knecht, Deputy Commissioner of Health at Nassau County Department of Health (video timestamp 5:08)
Jude Leibson, Youth Advisory Council of Community4Celiac (video timestamp 9:09)
Staci Leibson, a Nassau County resident and Founder of @TheCeliacShift & Co-Founder of Community4Celiac (video timestamp: 6:52)
Dr. Anissa Moore, Deputy County Executive, Nassau County
Mazi Melesa Pilip, Nassau County Legislator (25:39 video timestamp)
Rose Marie Walker, Nassau County Legislator who has a family member with Celiac Disease, along with a close friend (video timestamp 23:41)
"Eating without fear is our goal," stated Jax Bari, age 12, who is a Co-Founder of Celiac Journey. “Since 2020, I've been advocating for Gluten to be declared as a Major Food Allergen in the United States and requiring the labeling of Gluten. 87 other countries require that Gluten be declared on all food labels. This holiday season, I'm grateful to President Donald Trump, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and the MAHA Commission for including my common sense solution in the MAHA Strategy Report to Make America Healthier Again for millions of Americans like me with Celiac Disease."
"While I am honored today to be here with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, I should not have to be here. I should be in school right now with my friends," stated Jude Leibson who sits on the youth advisory council of Community4Celiac. "But I'm here today because I have Celiac Disease, and I need help. Our community needs help. There are 3.3 million Americans with Celiac including about 14,000 Nassau County residents with Celiac Disease. That's almost enough to up UBS Arena... Just before I went back to school, I was glutened. I was sick for days! It was awful. The adverse health effects can last for days and weeks. Because Gluten destroys the villi in my intestine, it's hard for my body to absorb nutrients. I just had to receive two iron infusions since I have iron deficiency anemia. 87 other countries around the world require the labeling of Gluten including in Canada, Mexico and across Europe. It's crazy! The United States does not require Gluten labeling. The United States is so far behind."
"As a mom, MAHA’s push for transparency of Gluten ingredients on all packaged foods in the United States brings me tears of relief," stated Staci Leibson, a Nassau County resident and Founder of @TheCeliacShift & Co-Founder of Community4Celiac. "When our son, Jude, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it felt like our whole world shattered. It was devastating and terrifying. Then came the endless stress of decoding confusing U.S. food labels. We pray each time we make a purchase that hidden sources of Gluten are not in the foods we are buying. Families, like ours and countless others in this country, deserve honesty and transparency on all packaged foods labels so we can protect our kids without living in constant fear."
"Celiac is a disease, not a diet! It's time to end the Gluten guessing game with the voluntary labeling of Gluten. We are grateful to the MAHA Commission for prioritizing common sense solutions and gold-standard science to address food allergies and autoimmune diseases that our children face with every bite, every day," stated Jon Bari, Co-Founder of Celiac Journey. "Just one crumb of Gluten is kryptonite to my son. Celiac Disease has more than 200 debilitating symptoms and the only treatment is a strict Gluten Free diet. That’s why we need transparency in food labeling."
"Food labels are confusing and incomplete, often resulting in fear, uncertainty and accidental glutenings," said Leslie Bari, Jax’s mom and Founder of @GlutenFreeFinds_pa. “Until there's a treatment for Celiac Disease other than a Gluten Free diet, we believe that requiring the labeling of Gluten will have the greatest impact on improving safety and quality of life for millions with Celiac Disease and their loved ones."
From New York to DC
Fox 5 New York: New Push to Clearly Label Food Products with Gluten
From Sea to Shining Sea: Making America Healthy Again for Millions of Americans with Celiac Disease
We are grateful to Bruce Blakeman for his support!
