Jax Bari, now 10 years old, has been a strong advocate for celiac disease since his diagnosis in August of 2018. Jax and his family have dedicated much energy to raising awareness of celiac disease and promoting the need for alternative treatments to the gluten-free diet and a cure for celiac disease. Jax has also been advocating to require the labeling of gluten on all packaged foods in the US and increasing government funding for celiac disease research.
As part of his work to raise awareness for celiac disease on a national level, Jax met with President Biden to request that gluten be labeled. Jax was then invited to share his lived experience and labeling request with the White House Domestic Policy Council. Additionally, Jax met with senior leadership from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and senior staff from the office of Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Jax was joined in his meetings by Dr. Virginia Stallings, one of the world’s foremost experts on food allergies who is a board-certified nutrition pediatrician, Professor of Pediatrics, and Director of the Nutrition Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where Jax has been treated for Celiac Disease since 2018.
Congratulations to Jax and his family for continuing to raise awareness on these important topics! With advocates like Jax supporting celiac disease patients across the country, our community will receive the federal support it desperately needs.
Read more about Jax and his celiac disease journey here.