July 30, 2026
Mrs. Luna (for herself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Pingree, and Mr. Rulli) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include barley, rye, and oats as major food allergens, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2026
or the FASTER Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Inclusion of barley, rye, and oats as major food allergens
(a) In general
Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (qq)(1), by striking wheat
and inserting gluten-containing grain
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(tt)
The term gluten-containing grain means one of the following grains, or a crossbred hybrid of such grains, such as triticale:
(1)
Wheat, including any species in the genus Triticum.
(2)
Rye, including any species in the genus Secale.
(3)
Barley, including any species in the genus Hordeum.
(4)
Oats, including any species in the genus Avena sativa.
(b) Revision of Manual of Compliance Policy Guides
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of Food and Drugs shall revise each section related to major food allergens (as defined in section 201(qq) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(qq))) in the Manual of Compliance Policy Guides issued by the Food and Drug Administration for purposes of implementing the amendments made by this section.
(c) Applicability
The amendments made by this section shall apply to any food that is introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3. Report on Celiac disease
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on—
(1)
surveillance of and collection of data on—
(A)
the prevalence of Celiac disease in the United States; and
(B)
the severity of any allergic reaction with respect to a specific food or food ingredient in an individual with Celiac disease;
(2)
any gap in such surveillance or collection of data;
(3)
development of effective diagnostics for Celiac disease;
(4)
any method for preventing the onset of Celiac disease;
(5)
any method for reducing any risk related to living with Celiac disease; and
(6)
development of new therapeutics to prevent, treat, cure, or manage Celiac disease.