Consumer Reports Calls on Secretary Kennedy to Issue Rulemaking to Declare Barley, Rye & Oats as Major Food Allergens

We are grateful to Consumer Reports for calling on Secretary Kennedy to declare Barley, Rye & Oat as Major Food Allergens, aligning U.S. consumer protections with 87 other countries!

According to Consumer Reports' comments:

"Consumer Reports applauds the Food and Drug Administration for seeking information on policy reforms that could make a meaningful difference in the lives of 3.3 million Americans with Celiac Disease, including approximately 729,000 children.

However, while receiving comments and seeking additional information on certain questions is an important step, it should not delay meaningful action that would reduce chronic diet-related disease. Ultimately, the FDA should undertake an expedited process requiring the labeling of gluten-containing grains on all packaged foods in the United States, just like gluten must be declared on all food labels in 87 other countries.

The FDA can 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 of HHS’s existing statutory authority under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA)."

To read Consumer Reports' letter to Secretary Kennedy, click here.

Special thanks go to Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy, and Michael Hansen, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, at Consumer Reports, who have supported Jax's clarion common-sense call for mandatory Gluten labeling.