Celiac Update - Your Government at Work
(June 10, 2010) The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) continues to advocate and "take a stand" for individuals and families dealing with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. With the issue of health care as a priority in Washington D.C., CSA works with our elected representatives and current legislation to improve the lives and be a representative voice for individuals with celiac disease.
Recently the House of Representatives passed HR Bill 2749 taking a step toward putting stricter FDA regulations upon America’s food sources. The Senate is now considering the Senate bill S510, which would activate similar regulations. Currently S510 does not include "gluten sources as related to celiac disease." Passage of this bill would require record keeping in the food industry of potential health hazards.
With the inclusion of those seven words to the bill, many individuals affected with celiac disease will be able to find foods that are acceptable to their diet much easier than content information today, affording the same protection as to those with allergies. The Celiac Sprue Association has requested the support of more than twenty Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), requesting a "Managers Amendment" to S.510, the FDA Food Safety Management Act to include the hazards affecting the food choices of those with celiac disease. Celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease, thus excluded from the food allergy aspects of the bill. A Manager’s Amendment would recognize this hazard and protect the 1% of the population coping with this autoimmune disease.
It is not always possible to determine the RISK of a food being free of wheat, barley, rye, common oats, their crosses and their derivatives either directly as an ingredient or through cross contact. Such information is rarely available. The lack of documentation creates a health hazard for those requiring gluten–free foods and an unclear liability for food companies.
Because *no safe gluten threshold has been established for those with celiac disease, *the FDA regulation for volunteer gluten-free food labeling is pending and *the gluten–free segment of the food industry grew 74% between 2004 and 2009 and is projected to continue growing at a rate of 15–25% per year, according to the Nielson Company. CSA has requested the efforts of the Senate’s Health, Education and Labor Committee to assist in this "Manager’s Amendment."
Senators who have been personally contacted by CSA to assist in this labeling issue include. Tom Harkin (IA), Chris Dodd (CT), Barbara A. Mikulski (MD), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Patty Murray (WA), Jack Reed (RI), Bernard Sanders (I) (VT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA),Kay Hagan (NC), Jeff Merkley (OR), Al Franken (MN), Michael Bennet (CO), Michael B. Enzi (WY), Judd Gregg (NH), Lamar Alexander (TN), Richard Burr (NC), Johnny Isakson (GA), John McCain (AZ), Orrin G. Hatch (UT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Pat Roberts (KS), Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK) With the help of these Senators, CSA continues to advocate awareness to our government leaders and Congress on issues pertaining to celiac disease as "Celiacs helping Celiacs." For more information on the S510 Bill visit the CSA website at csaceliacs.org or email executivedirector@csaceliacs.org or call toll free at 1-877-CSA-4-CSA.
Recently the House of Representatives passed HR Bill 2749 taking a step toward putting stricter FDA regulations upon America’s food sources. The Senate is now considering the Senate bill S510, which would activate similar regulations. Currently S510 does not include "gluten sources as related to celiac disease." Passage of this bill would require record keeping in the food industry of potential health hazards.
With the inclusion of those seven words to the bill, many individuals affected with celiac disease will be able to find foods that are acceptable to their diet much easier than content information today, affording the same protection as to those with allergies. The Celiac Sprue Association has requested the support of more than twenty Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), requesting a "Managers Amendment" to S.510, the FDA Food Safety Management Act to include the hazards affecting the food choices of those with celiac disease. Celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease, thus excluded from the food allergy aspects of the bill. A Manager’s Amendment would recognize this hazard and protect the 1% of the population coping with this autoimmune disease.
It is not always possible to determine the RISK of a food being free of wheat, barley, rye, common oats, their crosses and their derivatives either directly as an ingredient or through cross contact. Such information is rarely available. The lack of documentation creates a health hazard for those requiring gluten–free foods and an unclear liability for food companies.
Because *no safe gluten threshold has been established for those with celiac disease, *the FDA regulation for volunteer gluten-free food labeling is pending and *the gluten–free segment of the food industry grew 74% between 2004 and 2009 and is projected to continue growing at a rate of 15–25% per year, according to the Nielson Company. CSA has requested the efforts of the Senate’s Health, Education and Labor Committee to assist in this "Manager’s Amendment."
Senators who have been personally contacted by CSA to assist in this labeling issue include. Tom Harkin (IA), Chris Dodd (CT), Barbara A. Mikulski (MD), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Patty Murray (WA), Jack Reed (RI), Bernard Sanders (I) (VT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA),Kay Hagan (NC), Jeff Merkley (OR), Al Franken (MN), Michael Bennet (CO), Michael B. Enzi (WY), Judd Gregg (NH), Lamar Alexander (TN), Richard Burr (NC), Johnny Isakson (GA), John McCain (AZ), Orrin G. Hatch (UT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Pat Roberts (KS), Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK) With the help of these Senators, CSA continues to advocate awareness to our government leaders and Congress on issues pertaining to celiac disease as "Celiacs helping Celiacs." For more information on the S510 Bill visit the CSA website at csaceliacs.org or email executivedirector@csaceliacs.org or call toll free at 1-877-CSA-4-CSA.
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