FDA Takes Action to Improve Gluten Ingredient Disclosure in Foods
On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding labeling and preventing cross-contact of gluten in packaged food.
Background
The FDA received a citizen petition requesting that the FDA act to protect consumers with celiac disease by better enabling them to identify, through labeling, whether a food includes gluten-containing grains (GCGs), and to address cross-contact with GCGs. FDA subsequently reviewed available data and reports, which indicated that serious data gaps are limiting the agency’s ability to fully evaluate the public health importance of these ingredients, including data on adverse reactions.
Request for Information
The FDA is taking this action as a first step to improve transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with celiac disease, and other established food allergens.
The agency is inviting comments concerning adverse reactions due to “ingredients of interest” ( i.e., non-wheat GCGs and oats) in the United States. The RFI also aims to collect data on labeling issues or concerns with identifying ingredients of interest on packaged food products in the United States.
The FDA is particularly interested in:
- Data and information on IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated food allergies and adverse reactions to non-wheat GCGs (including prevalence, severity, and potency).
- Data and information on gluten in oats (including frequency and amounts of gluten in […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in full enforcement mode issuing 260 warning letters in 2021 alone! Now is the time to ensure your products are in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) prior to importation. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and others engaged in the production or sale of over the counter (OTC) drugs or cosmetic products must be aware of FDA’s various enforcement mechanisms, and more importantly, how to avoid and/or mitigate such actions. FDA’s most common enforcement activities include notices of FDA action, warning letters, seizures, voluntary recalls, injunctions, and criminal prosecution.