GF Labeling Summit Update

Article From:  http://americanceliac.org/

The Gluten-Free Labeling Summit held on May 4^th in Washington, DC was effectively two events happening simultaneously. Both were amazing and inspiring in their own right.

While the World's Tallest Gluten-Free Cake was being assembled, drawing a chorus of ahs, a few miles away the ACDA led a forceful contingent to advocate for gluten-free labeling on Capitol Hill.

Susan Walters-Flood (NuWorld Amaranth), Andrea Levario (ACDA) Jeremy Reich, Beth Hillson (ACDA) en route to congressional meeting.

A front page article on gluten-free labeling in the Washington Post days before the summit served as a calling card for meetings. The article, along with nearly 10,000 letters generated over the course two months, caught FDA's attention, too.

The FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Food called the ACDA to discuss the community's concerns. We outlined the concerns and made a simple request, that he speak at the summit. When Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor spoke no promises were made but one thing was clear, "FDA is listening."

Representatives from Glutino, King Arthur Flour, and NuWorld Amaranth, Celiac Disease Foundation, Gluten Intolerance Group, and others, participated in over a dozen meetings. In each the member was asked to push FDA to finalize the GF labeling rules as quickly as possible. Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) prepared a letter to the FDA to define 'gluten-free' and asked his colleagues to join in. Before the end of the day, three members all of whom had meetings with the ACDA or a GF food company had signed the Moran letter. Congress controls funding of the FDA and a letter from a group of members garners attention.

Understanding the importance of the labeling issue, long time community champion, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) accepted the ACDA's invitation to speak at the summit. She let everyone know that she would keep the pressure on FDA to complete the labeling standards. Rep. Betty McCollum, joined leaders in a discussion. She, too, will be on our side fighting to ensure there are no more delays.

The goal of the summit was to get FDA's attention and spur them to finish the labeling rules. Thanks to thousands of letters sent by individuals in the celiac community, we have their attention. We wanted to have face to face meetings with lawmakers, delivering the message directly. That happened too. One message plus a united community equals success.