FDA Responds to Jax's Citizen Petition & Announces Next Steps to Require Gluten Labeling in Packaged Foods & Prevent Gluten Cross Contact
- Jon Bari
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 minutes ago
It's not every day that the nationwide kickoff of the Take Back Your Health Tour with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. comes to your home state. Just before the rally started in Harrisburg on January 21, 2026, Secretary Kennedy issued a press release and a Request for Information (RFI) to take next steps to require Gluten labeling and respond to a Citizen Petition filed by 12-year old Jax Bari from Philly. What a day!
"Today, we advance the MAHA Strategy’s directive by demanding radical transparency in packaged food ingredients that affect health conditions and diet-related allergies," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said. "Americans deserve clear, reliable information about what’s in their food and how it’s made. Public input calling for honest labeling will protect consumers, prevent harm, and Make America Healthy Again."
"People with celiac disease or gluten sensitives have had to tiptoe around food, and are often forced to guess about their food options," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. "We encourage all stakeholders to share their experiences and data to help us develop policies that will better protect Americans and support healthy food choices."
Background on the Request for Information
According to the FDA's News Release, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a Citizen Petition from 12-year old Jax Bari and Celiac Journey requesting that the FDA acts to protect consumers with Celiac Disease by requiring that all ingredients with Gluten (Wheat, Barley, Rye and Oats) be listed by name in the ingredient list and by requiring cross-contact controls with Gluten-containing grains.
"We are issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to request comments about the issues presented in Celiac Journey's petition and on specific questions related to these issues. In addition, consistent with the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy issued by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, publishing this RFI is the first step in making recommendations about providing more transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with CD, and other established food allergens."
Request for Information is a Follow Up to the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report
The FDA's Request for Information (RFI) is a follow up to the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report (MAHA Strategy Report) which provides a policy roadmap for addressing the childhood chronic disease crisis. The FDA is asking the public to submit comments
The MAHA Strategy Report detailed 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. We are grateful that the MAHA Commission met with Jax and was inspired to include his common sense solution on Celiac and Gluten allergen labeling as 1 of the 128 bold initiatives in the MAHA Strategy Report:
"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."
Submit Your Comments to the FDA's Web Site Docket
In the RFI, the FDA is requesting data and real-world evidence on adverse reactions and labeling challenges associated with what it refers to as "ingredients of interest" -- Barley, Rye and Oats. These include rye and barley -- grains that contain Gluten but are not required to be declared as allergens under current U.S. law -- as well as Oats, which are naturally Gluten Free, but are frequently subject to Gluten cross-contact.
Specifically, the FDA is seeking information on how often Rye or Barley may be present in foods without clear disclosure, the severity and public health impact of reactions to these grains, and ongoing concerns related to Gluten cross-contact in Oat-containing products.
How to Submit Comments
Electronic Submissions
Comments can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal to Docket No FDA-2023-P-3942 (open for 60 days).
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Written Submissions
Written comments may be mailed to:
Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305)Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane
Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Please ensure that all comments include Docket No. FDA-2023-P-3942.
