WASHINGTON –Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), original author of legislation to better label allergens in food ingredient lists, praised the Senate today for passing the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act last night. 

“I am grateful to the Senate, especially Senators Kennedy and Gregg, for joining me in the fight for food-allergic consumers.  The lack of easy-to-read food ingredient statements is a serious – even deadly – health hazard for food-allergic consumers.  The Senate’s unanimous passage of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act puts us a significant step closer to giving consumers the critical information they need to make safe and healthy dietary choices.”

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act:
• requires that food statements list in plain language, what, if any, of the eight main food allergens are contained in the product;
• requires food ingredient statements to identify food allergens used in spices, natural or artificial flavorings, additives, and colorings;
• requires the Centers for Disease Control to track food-allergic-related deaths;
• directs the National Institutes of Health to convene a panel of experts to develop a plan for research activities concerning food allergies; and
• requires the Food and Drug Administration to examine how best to address the problem of unintentional contamination and cross-contact of foods, and determine the best way to inform consumers with food allergies about the risk of cross-contact. 

Food allergic consumers are at constant risk without complete and reliable food labels because they are forced to decipher difficult-to-read ingredient lists.  For example, “whey,” “casein,” and “lactoglobulin” are all terms approved by the Food and Drug Administration to indicate the presence of milk in a product.

“By enacting these simple labeling changes, we can save lives,” said Lowey.  “Yesterday’s action in the Senate is a great step forward for the seven million food-allergic Americans.  However, they can not let out a collective sigh of relief until this measure is signed into law.”

Lowey said she would fight to pass this vital food safety bill in the House of Representatives, where it has bipartisan support.