Momentum in the US is growing behind the proposed new Celiac Safety Act of 2026 legislation, which would require clearer declaration of gluten-containing grains such as barley, rye, and their crossbred hybrids on food labels in the United States. Advocates argue it would bring US labelling requirements closer to those already in place across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK and Europe.
Under current US law, wheat is one of the major allergens that must be clearly declared on packaged food labels. However, barley and rye, which also contain gluten and are unsafe for people with coeliac disease, are not subject to the same mandatory allergen declaration requirements.
While introduced to the US House of Representatives in May 2026, the bill comes after more than two decades of advocacy from the Celiac Disease Foundation, which has argued that clearer labelling is essential for the millions of Americans who rely on a strict gluten-free diet to manage coeliac disease.
The bill must still progress through the US legislative process, including approval by both the House of Representatives and Senate before being signed into law.
For more information, including a series of Frequently Asked Questions, see the Celiac Disease Foundation website.
