A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass a food labeling modernization act and an allergen disclosure in non-food articles act.

PRINTER'S NO. 232
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 24
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, HAYWOOD, COMITTA AND COSTA,
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to pass a food labeling
modernization act and an allergen disclosure in non-food
articles act.
WHEREAS, A food labeling modernization act would require
updates to the list of ingredients on packaged foods and add
front-of-packaging food labeling requirements, including the
disclosure of gluten-containing grains; and
WHEREAS, An allergen disclosure in non-food articles act
would require that the label of a drug intended for human use
identify each ingredient in the drug that is, or is derived
directly or indirectly from, a major food allergen or gluten-
containing grain; and
WHEREAS, Certain food and drug ingredients can pose serious
health risks, including death, to those with allergies or
intolerances to such ingredients; and
WHEREAS, Celiac disease, an illness caused by an autoimmune
reaction to gluten, affects about 1% of the United States
population, while another 6% of the population has an
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intolerance to gluten; and
WHEREAS, Those with celiac disease or an intolerance to
gluten suffer from symptoms such as hives, skin rash, nausea,
stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain,
infertility, early osteoporosis, bloating and low blood counts;
and
WHEREAS, Lack of compliance to a strict, gluten-free diet for
those with celiac disease puts them at a six times greater risk
of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and a four times greater
risk of developing cancer of the small intestine than the
general population; and
WHEREAS, Food labels play a critical role in managing diet-
related diseases, allergies and intolerances; and
WHEREAS, Current food and medication labels do not always
provide the simple, straightforward information that consumers
need to stay healthy and safe; and
WHEREAS, Under Federal law, food products containing wheat
must be labeled to identify its presence; and
WHEREAS, Gluten can be found in grains other than wheat,
including barley, oats and rye; and
WHEREAS, Without properly labeling all products that contain
gluten, we put many of our fellow citizens at risk of developing
severe reactions to the food and medicine they ingest; and
WHEREAS, It is of utmost importance that we do all we can to
help those with celiac disease and others with an intolerance to
gluten better identify food and medicine that could be harmful
to them; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the Congress of the United States to pass a food labeling
modernization act and an allergen disclosure in non-food
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articles act; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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