Food Labeling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2004
Contact: Alexandra Bessent Enright abessent@umm.edu 410-328-9260
Ellen Beth Levitt eblevitt@umm.edu 410-328-8919

UM CENTER FOR CELIAC RESEARCH SUPPORTS FOOD LABELING LAWS TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH CELIAC DISEASE AND FOOD ALLERGIES

The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research applauds the U.S. Senate for passing the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act this week. The bill requires food manufacturers to clearly state if a product contains the top eight food allergens, including milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish and shellfish. In addition, the bill calls for the Food and Drug Administration to issue final regulations defining “gluten-free” by January 2006, so that people with celiac disease can know whether a product contains the protein gluten that makes them sick.

The bill, passed by the Senate on Tuesday, now will be considered by the House of Representatives. Congress has reviewed food-labeling bills in the past, but this is the first time any bill has addressed celiac disease and the issue of whether a product contains gluten.

“This is a major step in helping people with celiac disease,” explains Alessio Fasano, M.D., professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology, and medical director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that is triggered by eating the protein gluten, which is found in grains, including wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats.

“There is currently no cure for the disease,” says Dr. Fasano, who is also director of gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children. “The only way for someone with celiac disease to keep from getting sick is to completely avoid foods and products that contain gluten. Right now, people often have to guess whether a product has gluten. This legislation, if enacted, could take the guess work out of the equation.”

Last year, the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research released the results of a six-year, multi-center study on the prevalence of celiac disease. It found that celiac disease is much more common than previously thought, occurring in one out of every 133 people. The study helped increase awareness of the disease and the everyday struggle of those who have it.

After the University of Maryland study was published, the Center for Celiac Research formed the American Celiac Task Force (ACTF). The group’s main goal is to advocate for changing the food labeling laws in the United States. The ACTF has been instrumental in helping push the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act through Congress.

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