08/05/2026
We're sharing some important information from the National Celiac Association concerning four bills currently in congress aimed at protecting those with celiac disease as well as gluten and other food allergies.
There are FOUR bills in congress right now pushing to protect people with celiac disease or another gluten-related condition.
What do they do?
How do they overlap and how are they different from one another?
The FASTER Act of 2026 (H.R. 9988) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include barley, rye, and oats as major food allergens.
This act would also require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report on the prevalence of celiac disease in the United States, the severity of any allergic reaction in an individual with celiac disease, any gaps in surveillance or collection of data, development of diagnostics for celiac disease, any method of preventing the onset of celiac disease, and development of new therapies to prevent, treat, cure, or manage celiac disease.
The mention of oats sets this one apart, in addition to the research requirements.
The Celiac Safety Act (H.R. 9048) would require the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to classify all gluten-containing grains as major food allergens.
At this time, the United States only requires manufacturers to list wheat as a major allergen, which does not account for the other gluten-containing grains including barley and rye. If passed, the The Celiac Safety Act will require any product containing wheat, barley, or rye to list “gluten-containing grains” as a major allergen, making it much easier for people to read labels.
This one groups wheat, barley, and rye under one “gluten-containing grain” disclosure.
The Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 8385) covers a lot of areas, beyond allergens and disclosures. It includes the addition of the terminology “or gluten-containing grain” following “major food allergen” to existing legislation.
This is a broad food packaging bill that inserts gluten disclosures into overall food labeling laws.
The ADINA Act (H.R. 3821) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the label of a drug intended for human use to identify each ingredient in such drug that is, or is derived directly or indirectly from, a major food allergen or a gluten-containing grain, and for other purposes.
This bill focuses on medications and prescriptions, where the other ones are related to food labels.
All of these bills are proposed amendments to the current Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
We are thrilled to see advocacy at the national level for the celiac community as well as for people with other gluten-related conditions. We truly hope this momentum leads to improved labeling laws.
What can I do to help?
If you would like to see any, or all, of these amendments passed, you shold find your U.S. Representative (you can look them up at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative)
Contact their office and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 9988, H.R. 9048, H.R. 8385, and H.R. 3821.
Read more at https://nationalceliac.org/news/support-legislation-that-will-make-a-difference-for-people-living-gluten-free/
