Celiac Journey Applauds the MAHA Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report Which Addresses Celiac Disease & Gluten Labeling

Jon Bari
2 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Celiac Journey applauds the release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report, which provides a policy roadmap for addressing the childhood chronic disease crisis.

The Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report details policy reforms that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of 3.3 million Americans with Celiac Disease, including about 729,000 children like Jax, the MAHA Kid. The MAHA Strategy Report includes language on Celiac Disease and requiring the labeling of Gluten as a food allergen:

"Food Allergies: FDA will develop guidance on diagnostics and treatments for food allergies. FDA will also make recommendations about requiring transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with Celiac disease, and other established food allergens."

On 9/9/25, the White House released the MAHA Strategy Report which is a plan with more than 120 bold initiatives to reverse the failed policies that have been fueling America's childhood chronic disease epidemic. The MAHA Strategy Report outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration. We are grateful that Celiac Disease was recognized in the MAHA Strategy Report and that requiring the labeling of Gluten is one of the 120 initiatives included therein.

"Eating without fear is our goal. 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. I’m grateful to President Trump, Secretary Kennedy and the MAHA Commission for listening to my common sense solution to Make America Healthier Again for millions of Americans like me with Celiac Disease." -- Jax Bari, Age 12

Promises Made, Promises Kept

According to the President's Executive Order to establish the Make America Healthy Again Commission on 2/13/25, "The [MAHA] Strategy [Report] shall address appropriately restructuring the Federal Government's response to the chronic childhood disease crisis, including by ending Federal practices that exacerbate the health crisis or unsuccessfully attempt to address it, and by adding powerful new solutions that will end childhood chronic disease."

Jax's common sense solution to require Gluten labeling falls squarely in line with "restructuring the Federal Government's response to the chronic childhood disease crisis" with Celiac Disease as reported in the MAHA Assessment Report on 5/22/25:
"Celiac disease rates have increased 5-fold in American children since the 1980s."
Jax's common sense solution to require Gluten labeling falls squarely in line with "ending Federal practices that exacerbate the health crisis or unsuccessfully attempt to address it": the voluntary labeling of Gluten as a food allergen. Since Gluten is not declared as a Major Food Allergen in the United States, Celiacs have been forced to rely on products that are voluntarily labeled Gluten Free. Often times, these products are ultra-processed foods that have been specifically created to be marketed in a premium marketplace of high-priced Gluten Free food items.
Jax's common sense solution to require Gluten labeling falls squarely in line with "adding powerful new solutions that will end childhood chronic disease."

To Make America Healthy Again for 3.3 million Americans with Celiac Disease, including about 729,000 children, the MAHA Commission is prioritizing a public health problem long overdue for robust action: reducing chronic diet-related disease by requiring the labeling of Gluten-containing grains (Wheat*, Barley, Rye and Oats) on all packaged foods in the United States, just like Gluten must be declared on all food labels in 87 other countries. The MAHA Strategy Report recognizes that it's time for FDA to address this critical consumer protection food safety issue with the urgency it requires and issue rulemaking requiring the labeling of Gluten as a "Major Food Allergen" based on the Secretary Kennedy's existing statutory authority under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004.

Whole-of-Government Approach

The MAHA Commission is chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. In addition to the Executive Office of the President, the MAHA Commission is composed of multiple Federal agencies including the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Food & Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs.

The MAHA Strategy Report sets out health reform by realigning food systems, boosting research, and fighting root causes like poor diets, toxins and screen time.

We look forward to FDA Commissioner Makary and HHS Secretary Kennedy issuing rulemaking to the require the labeling of Barley, Rye and Oats.

USDA is Already Updating Directives on Gluten Ingredients

On 9/11/25, the USDA released a new directive that asks inspectors to ensure that meat producers are following regulations on the top 9 Major Food Allergens, as well as Gluten. The directive is entitled, "Ongoing Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling Targeting the Nine Most Common ("Big 9") Food Allergens - Revision 4 | Food Safety and Inspection Service."

"This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) for performing the "Big 9" Formulation Verification task in the Public Health Information System (PHIS). IPP verify that establishments are accurately controlling and labeling the nine most common ("Big 9") food allergens and gluten in meat (including Siluriformes products), poultry and egg products establishments. The "Big 9" allergens are designated as "major food allergens" by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004 and Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act (FASTER Act) of 2021. FSIS is reissuing this directive to add gluten as an ingredient to be verified as part of this task. Although gluten is not one of the "Big 9" major food allergens, IPP will now verify that establishments are accurately controlling and labeling gluten similar to the Big 9 allergens."

For all intents and purposes, this USDA directive instructs inspectors to treat Gluten as a Major Food Allergen. Thank you Secretary Rollins.

Health > Politics

Jax's common sense solution to require the labeling of Gluten is bipartisan, actionable and not controversial. That's a great thing! We need to celebrate wins wherever they come from.