We are thrilled to share that on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, the Celiac Safety Act wasintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN). This bill would classify gluten-containing grains (wheat, rye, barley, and their crossbred hybrids) as major food allergens, requiring clear labeling on all food products that contain them.
If passed, this legislation would improve the quality of life for Americans with celiac disease by making it substantially easier to understand whether a food contains gluten or not. Currently, of all the gluten-containing grains, only wheat is considered a major allergen and required to be listed on food labels in the United States. Because of this, Americans with celiac disease are often left dissecting ingredient lists for any ingredients made from barley or rye, which can be confusing and unclear. The United States is behind much of the world in this regard. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and all 27 member states of the European Union require manufacturers to list gluten as a major allergen.
“Gluten-containing grains trigger a serious autoimmune response in celiac disease patients, yet current labeling laws fail to recognize that risk with the same clarity afforded to other ingredients listed as major allergens. Recategorizing gluten-containing grains as a major food allergen would strengthen transparency, reduce preventable medical harm, and help millions of Americans make safe food choices with confidence. The Celiac Disease Foundation applauds Representatives Cleaver and McCollum for introducing the Celiac Safety Act, and we urge members of Congress to pass this important legislation,” said Marilyn G. Geller, CEO of the Celiac Disease Foundation.
The Celiac Safety Act stems from extensive conversations with the Foundation’s policy department and Representative Cleaver’s office, as we worked together to identify clear solutions on regulatory practices impacting the celiac disease community. We are very appreciative of Representative Cleaver and his team for their continued collaboration. We also greatly appreciate the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD) for endorsing this important legislation.
We need your help in making sure this bill becomes law! Please join us in asking your Representative to cosponsor this bill and improve food labeling for the celiac disease community.
You can learn more about the Celiac Safety Act here.
If your organization would like to endorse this bill, please reach out to us at advocacy@celiac.org.