Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. 578.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act, also known as the FASTER Act.

An estimated 32 million Americans, including approximately one in every 13 children, are affected by food allergies. These allergies can pose significant risks, particularly when inaccurate food labels fail to warn consumers about the presence of some of these allergens.

Under current law, eight allergens are considered major food allergens. These allergens include milk, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. Due to their status as major food allergens, manufacturers must clearly state the presence of any of these ingredients on labels.

Notably missing from this list of allergens is sesame. Sesame is considered an allergen of growing concern. While its prevalence has more than doubled over the last decade, it is not required to be listed as an allergen on food packaging. In fact, in some cases, a food may contain sesame, but the ingredient won't be listed at all on the labels, instead being referred to through nonspecific terms such as "spices'' or words that may not be easily recognized by consumers as containing sesame, such as tahini.

While many may not recognize the significance of a simple ingredients label, for many families, a lack of clarity on ingredients could mean life or death for those who are allergic to sesame. Clearly, this information should be prominently featured on all packaged food labels.

This is an issue we have been working on for quite some time. I previously introduced a bill several years ago that would list sesame as a major food allergen, and although the Food and Drug Administration opened a docket to solicit feedback about sesame labeling, the agency has not been able to require the listing of sesame due to overly long regulatory processes.

So today, Mr. Speaker, we are bypassing these regulatory delays and taking action. The appropriately-named FASTER Act would quickly move this process along by recognizing sesame as a major food allergen and requiring its listing on new food labels after a phase-in process.

The bill will also require FDA to report recommendations on how we can make additional improvements to protect individuals with food allergies, including ways to add additional major food allergens.

So I want to thank Representative Matsui for her tireless work on this bill. She is the prime sponsor. We came so close to getting this over the finish line in the last Congress, and I am glad that today we are sending this bill to President Biden for his signature. I am proud to support the legislation. I encourage all Members to vote for it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Matsui) who is the House sponsor of the legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, S. 578, the FASTER Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source