Pennsylvania's Bipartisan Effort to Require Gluten Food Allergen Labeling Gains Momentum
- Jon Bari
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Pennsylvania State Senator Amanda Cappelletti (District 17) has long championed the Celiac community in its fight for more research funding and transparent food allergen labeling of Gluten. We are grateful to Senator Cappelletti for her efforts to address chronic childhood diet-related disease by introducing Pennsylvania Senate Bill 629 in May 2024. Pennsylvania Senate Bill 629 is an Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in food protection, providing for labeling of food products with gluten-containing grains.
Bipartisan Support for Common Sense Solution
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 629 has been gaining bipartisan co-sponsor support across Pennsylvania including from:
Senator Scott Martin, Majority Appropriations Committee Chair (R, District 13)
Senator Jay Costa, Minority Floor Leader (D, District 43)
Senator Christine Tartaglione, Minority Whip (D, District 2)
Sen. Judith Schwank, Minority Caucus Chair and Minority Chair, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (D, District 11)
Senator Rosemary Brown (R, District 40)
Senator Carolyn Comitta (D, Senate District 19)
Senator Art Haywood (D, District 4)
Senator John Kane (D, District 9)
Senator Katie Muth (D, District 44)
Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R, District 24)
Senator Nikil Saval, (D, District 1)
On September 29, 2021, the Pennsylvania State Senate, with Lt. Governor John Fetterman presiding, honored 8 year old Jax Bari, a resident of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, for his national advocacy efforts for Celiac Disease.
"A Celiac diagnosis is an extraordinary challenge for any family, and not all families have the resources to afford or pay such close attention to living a gluten-free lifestyle. If enacted, these bills will make it much easier for Pennsylvanians with Celiac and gluten intolerances to discern what they can and cannot consume."
-- Senator Amanda Cappelletti
"Currently, under federal law, only food products containing wheat must be labeling to identify its presence. However, gluten can be found in grains other than wheat, including barely, oats, and rye. So, without properly labeling all products that contain gluten, we are placing many of our fellow citizens at risk."
-- Representative Mary Jo Daley (HD-148)
A Day in the Life: Shopping for Gluten Free Food is Very Challenging
“Recurrent exposures to gluten may even increase your long-term risk of conditions like osteoporosis, anemia, and even certain cancers, like lymphoma. So, whether its food items at a grocery store or medication at the pharmacy, this is the daily stress that we see our families go through as they navigate a world where gluten-free labeling is inadequate."
-- Dr. Arunjot Singh, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Co-Director at the Center for Celiac Disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“Whenever I go out to eat, my plans have to revolve around my [Celiac] disease and the ability for a server and kitchen staff to help keep me safe. Celiac can be very isolating and food jealousy is so real. The disease has had a profound, life-altering impact on me and my family."
-- Jen Statler a Pennsylvanian with Celiac Disease and the mother to an 11-year-old daughter with Celiac Disease.
State Leadership on Food Policy
Various states including Texas and West Virginia have helped lead the way to address childhood chronic diet-related disease through legislation that then set the national standard (i.e. food dyes, toxic ingredients). Pennsylvania can do the same with Senate Bill 629. This is in alignment with the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report which 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."
Since 2004, Wheat has been required to labeled in the United States, but not Barley, Rye and Oats. 87 other countries around the world require the labeling of Gluten, including in Canada and across Europe. Requiring the labeling of Gluten is common sense, bipartisan, actionable and not controversial. We never want to debate politics, but we work to navigate the waters that we find ourselves in on a state and Federal level.
Additional Resources
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 629, Food Labeling Guidelines: An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in food protection, providing for labeling of food products with gluten-containing grains.
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 628, Medication Labeling Guidelines: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for definitions and for misbranding.
Press Release, PA Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti and Representative Mary Jo Daley Highlight Legislation to Require Proper Gluten Food and Medicine Labeling, June 4, 2024
Press Conference, Pennsylvania State Senator Amanda Cappelletti and Pennsylvania State Representative Mary Jo Daley, June 4, 2024
