Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution urging the United States Congress to pass the Food Labeling Modernization Act (H.R. 2901 and S. 1289) and the Allergen Disclosure In Non-food Articles Act (H.R. 4263 and S. 2079).  These proposals would update federal labeling laws to require that food and medication labels properly identify the presence of gluten-containing grains and other major food allergens.  

 

Approximately 23 million people in the United States, including over 900,000 Pennsylvanians, have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten.  For these individuals, ingesting gluten can cause symptoms such as hives, skin rash, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain, infertility, early osteoporosis, bloating, and low blood counts. Those with celiac disease are also six times more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and four times more likely to develop cancer of the small intestine than the general population. 

 

Current food and medication labels do not always provide the simple, straightforward information that consumers need to stay healthy and safe. Since the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution restricts the ability of states to enact laws to regulate the labeling of products, we believe it is of utmost importance that Congress take action to update federal food and medication labeling laws. 

 

This resolution serves as a companion to the resolution introduced by Representative Mary Jo Daley in the House of Representatives. 

 

Please join us in support of this effort to help consumers better identify food and medicine that could be harmful to them.