Northeast Ohio Celiac Network is a strictly nonpartisan organization. As a group, we do not endorse any specific candidates or political parties and we will not tell you how to vote.
That being said, we urge you to vote in the 2026 midterm elections by November 3rd. Your elected officials help determine if and how government funding is used for medical research, including Celiac Disease research. In addition, several pieces of legislation have been recently introduced in Congress that, if passed, would affect the labeling of gluten on the food or medication you buy. Your vote could help determine whether or not any of these bills become law. This is your chance to make your voice heard!
Early voting is already underway in Ohio. Find out how you can vote at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections.
Here are the Celiac-related bills that Congress is currently considering:
H.R. 9048 – The Celiac Safety Act of 2026
If this bill becomes law, “gluten-containing grain” (defined as wheat, rye, barley, and their derivatives) would be added to the list of major allergens covered under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) that must be specifically called out on food ingredient labels. Wheat would still have be listed as a separate allergen.
H.R. 8385 – The Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2026
This bill, if passed, would require “gluten-containing grain” (defined as wheat, rye, barley, and their derivatives) to have the same labeling requirements as the allergens covered under FALCPA. But it does not define “gluten-containing grain” as an allergen. Wheat would still be defined as an allergen and specifically called out on food labels.
This legislation would also require ingredient, allergen, and nutrition information to be disclosed when food is sold online or on apps like Instacart and Doordash.
H.R. 9988 – The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2026
If passed, this bill would replace wheat with “gluten-containing grain” on the list of allergens covered by FALCPA. “Gluten-containing grain” on this bill includes wheat, rye, barley, oats, and their derivatives. This is the only currently proposed legislation that is trying to add oats to the major allergen list.
This bill would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress about Celiac Disease.
H.R. 3821 – Allergen Disclosure In Non-Food Articles (ADINA) Act
This bill, if passed, would require the labeling of allergens and gluten-containing grains in medications.
