The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather views and data on how gluten and potential cross-contact are disclosed on packaged foods.
The decision was made as part of a broader review of safeguards for people with coeliac disease and other allergies.
An RFI is a standard process used to collect broad market intelligence before any formal regulatory or procurement steps are taken.
The agency said the initiative forms an early stage in strengthening disclosures about ingredients that may affect specific health conditions, with a focus on “ingredients of interest” – non-wheat gluten-containing grains such as rye and barley.
It also includes oats because of contamination risks during handling or processing.
The FDA is asking for evidence on adverse reactions linked to these grains and for information about current labelling practices or difficulties in identifying them on US food products.
It is also seeking data on how often rye or barley may not be declared, the seriousness and potency of immunoglobulin E-mediated allergies to those grains, and the extent of gluten exposure in oats through cross-contact.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses are described as the main cause of immediate hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis.
According to the FDA, the move follows a citizen petition and a review of existing research, including findings from a recent expert consultation organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
That assessment identified “several serious data gaps”, notably the shortage of US-specific evidence on reactions to the grains under review.
The regulator said submissions to the RFI will help shape its future gluten-related labelling priorities and guide decisions on whether further regulatory measures are required to better protect consumers with coeliac disease.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said: “Today, we advance the MAHA Strategy’s directive by demanding radical transparency in packaged food ingredients that affect health conditions and diet-related allergies. Americans deserve clear, reliable information about what’s in their food and how it’s made. Public input calling for honest labelling will protect consumers, prevent harm, and Make America Healthy Again.”
Last December, the FDA proposed to include bemotrizinol as an authorised active component in over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen formulations.
The regulator said its proposal was based on the assessment of data indicating that bemotrizinol provides protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.
