Comparing the FASTER Act with the Celiac Safety Act - Two Bills, Major Differences, Millions of Lives at Stake
Updated: Aug 12
CALL TO ACTION - Contact Congress at www.FASTERact.org
and ask your Member of Congress to co-sponsor the FASTER Act.
Below are some of the key differences between H.R.9988, the Food Allergy, Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2026 (FASTER Act of 2026) and H.R.9048, the Celiac Safety Act:
FASTER Act requires that Oats are labeled as a Major Food Allergen along with Barley and Rye. Oats are required to be labeled in many other countries including in Canada, in Mexico, in the United Kingdom and across the European Union. Consumer sentiment survey data shows overwhelming support from 89.6% of respondents for requiring the labeling of Oats as it would be meaningful to them.
FASTER Act requires the HHS Secretary to issue a comprehensive report on Celiac Disease (diagnostics, treatment, research, prevention of new cases).
FASTER Act requires FDA to update the Compliance Policy Guide.
FASTER Act is designed to better protect and estimated 26.2 million Americans have some type of food allergy or intolerance to gluten: 3.3 million with Celiac Disease, 20 million with gluten intolerance, 2.4 million with an IgE-mediated wheat allergy with potential cross-reactivity to barley, rye, and oats, and 0.5 million with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
FASTER Act does not have any special interests behind it (i.e., "Big Food" like General Mills which is the largest seller of Oats). Note: It appears that the Celiac Safety Act was ghost-written by and for General Mills, the largest seller of Oats in the U.S. General Mills also sponsors the Celiac Disease Foundation with an undisclosed amount, and places Celiac Disease Foundation's logo on every box of Cheerios, even though many Celiac patients have reported that they get sick from eating Cheerios. General Mills is based in Minnesota with substantial operations and economic ties throughout the Twin Cities, and Rep. Betty McCollum represents Minnesota's 4th congressional district. However, none of these conflicts of interest are ever disclosed, even as potential conflicts of interest. In a parallel path, General Mills, via the Consumer Brands Association, is also fighting against Jax's FDA Citizen Petition to require the labeling of of Barley, Rye and Oats under the HHS Secretary's existing statutory authority. The irony is that General Mills has represented to the U.S. government that: "Absent dedicating land, harvesting equipment, transporting vehicles, storage units, packaging and production facilities, and the like only for use in connection with oats, cross contamination [with Gluten] is inevitable." -- General Mills, U.S. Patent 9,968,937, May 15, 2018.
Global Best Practices on Labeling Gluten Containing Grains of Wheat, Barley, Rye & Oats
For additional information on the global best practices for labeling Gluten-containing grains including wheat, barley, rye and oats, see the UK's Food & Drink Federation's "Gluten Labelling Guidance: Best Practice for Prepacked Foods which Include or Exclude Cereals Containing Gluten."
Additionally, please see the following article, "Hey FDA - Let's Follow the UK's Food Standards Agency and the UK's Food & Drink Federation: Best Practices for Labeling Gluten on Packaged Foods." See sections 5 and 7 in particular on the labeling of Oats.
The FASTER Act of 2026 is modeled after the FASTER Act of 2021 (which required Sesame labeling as the 9th Major Food Allergen) in which the Congressional Budget Office estimated the new FDA staffing and related expenses would cost about $5 million over the 2021-2025 period.
Conflicts of Interest Between Celiac Disease Foundation and General Mills, the Maker of Cheerios
It's no wonder that the Celiac Disease Foundation only supports the Celiac Safety Act and not the FASTER Act. Just follow the General Mills' money...
Consumer Sentiment Survey by Celiac Journey & Beyond Celiac
Survey data collected in a partnership between Celiac Journey and Beyond Celiac make clear that current labeling practices for Barley, Rye, and Oats present a significant, ongoing risk of unintended Gluten exposure, even among consumers highly proficient in Gluten Free diet management.
This Celiac Journey and Beyond Celiac survey was distributed via social media and email, and eligible respondents were US residents, 18 years or older. From March 5-17, 2026, we collected 1,959 complete responses. Of those respondents, about 77% have celiac disease or avoid gluten for medical reasons, and about 32% care for a child who has celiac disease or avoids gluten for a medical reason. Of the nearly 2,000 people who completed the survey, 91% of respondents have been following the gluten-free diet for 2 years or more, so most of these people are very familiar with the medical diet, and have been shopping for gluten-free products for years.
Pertaining to Barley & Rye:
99.2% say labeling barley and rye is meaningful to them
90.7% say it would make them feel safer and more comfortable purchasing products
87.9% say it would increase confidence in purchasing decisions
59.4% say it would reduce time spent analyzing labels
Pertaining to Oats:
89.6% - There is overwhelming support for requiring the labeling of Oats, and it would be meaningful to them in their lives.
84.2% - Labeling Oats would make consumers feel safer and more comfortable buying products.
Consumer Sentiment Survey by Celiac Disease Foundation Shows Deep Concern Over Oats Being Cross-Contacted with Gluten
"61.1% of respondents report that more transparency around oats would help them make safer food choices." -- Celiac Disease Foundation
According to Celiac Disease Foundation's survey, consumers report ongoing uncertainty or adverse experiences with Oats:
77.0% perceive Oats/Oat-containing products as higher risk for cross-contact
54.7% identified Oats/Oat ingredients as a labeling issue that creates uncertainty
29.1% report experiencing symptoms after consuming gluten-free labeled Oats/Oat-containing products.
Those who avoid Oats primarily do so due to concerns regarding cross-contact
31.3% consume products containing oats labeled as gluten-free regularly
48.7% consume them occasionally
20.0% avoid oats entirely
Despite survey data from Beyond Celiac and Celiac Journey demonstrating strong support for labeling Oats as a gluten-containing grain -- and, remarkably, despite its own survey research showing similar support -- the Celiac Disease Foundation continues to oppose common-sense disclosure of Oats as a gluten-containing grain.
Celiac Disease Foundation's position is difficult to reconcile with both the preferences expressed by the Celiac community in its own research and global labeling practices. Mandatory disclosure of Oats would align U.S. labeling closer to established standards in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and across the European Union, while giving people with Celiac Disease something they overwhelmingly want and deserve: greater transparency about what is in their food.
