The Fight for Honest Gluten Labels Is Gaining Ground

After years of work behind the scenes, advocacy for clearer gluten labeling in the United States is finally gaining momentum. The Celiac Disease Foundation has been pushing the FDA to strengthen labeling rules and cross-contact prevention standards for packaged foods—and this year, those efforts are moving forward.

In January, the FDA opened a public comment period asking for input on how to improve gluten labeling and prevent cross-contact in packaged foods. The Celiac Disease Foundation, alongside eight partner organizations, submitted detailed recommendations based on what celiac families actually need: labels that are clear, consistent, and protective.

This builds on progress earlier this year. As we covered in FDA moves toward tougher gluten labeling rules, the agency has signaled openness to updating regulations that haven’t kept pace with the realities of managing celiac disease. The foundation’s latest advocacy work focuses on turning that openness into concrete policy changes.

What This Means for You

Right now, gluten labeling in the United States operates in a regulatory gray zone that puts the burden on celiac families. Products can be labeled “gluten-free” if they contain fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten—a standard based on sound science. But there’s no requirement for manufacturers to disclose when a product was made on shared equipment with gluten-containing foods, or when cross-contact is possible.

That means families like mine are left reading ingredient lists, calling manufacturers, and making educated guesses about safety. My son can’t eat a snack bar without me first confirming that “made in a facility that also processes wheat” doesn’t mean the product itself picked up enough gluten to make him sick.

The Celiac Disease Foundation’s advocacy work aims to change this by pushing for mandatory advisory labeling when cross-contact risk exists. If a product was made on shared equipment or in a shared facility with gluten, the label should say so clearly and consistently. Not buried in fine print. Not using vague language like “may contain.” Clear, standardized warnings that allow families to make informed decisions quickly.

The foundation is also advocating for stronger preventive controls to reduce cross-contact during manufacturing. Better cleaning protocols, validated testing procedures, and documentation requirements would mean fewer products end up contaminated in the first place—and fewer surprise reactions for celiac patients who trusted a label.

Key Takeaways

• The FDA asked for public input on gluten labeling and cross-contact prevention in January 2026
• The Celiac Disease Foundation submitted recommendations calling for mandatory advisory labels when cross-contact risk exists
• Current rules allow manufacturers to stay silent about shared equipment and facilities
• Clearer labeling would reduce the detective work celiac families do every time they shop
• Stronger preventive controls during manufacturing could reduce cross-contact incidents

Why This Matters Now

Food labeling regulations move slowly. The last major update to gluten-free labeling rules came in 2013, when the FDA finalized the definition of “gluten-free” and set the 20 ppm threshold. In the decade-plus since, the gluten-free food market has exploded, manufacturing has become more complex, and celiac families have been left navigating an increasingly complicated landscape with outdated tools.

The advocacy work happening now—both in the United States and globally through the Codex Alimentarius discussions we covered in CCFL49 Forwards Science-Based Guidance for Precautionary Labeling—represents a rare alignment of regulatory attention and community need. When the FDA opens a public comment period, it signals genuine willingness to consider changes. The Celiac Disease Foundation’s participation ensures that celiac families’ actual experiences inform whatever comes next.

This isn’t about making life slightly more convenient. It’s about safety. Every ambiguous label is a risk calculation. Every phone call to a manufacturer is time spent hoping the person on the other end understands what “gluten cross-contact” means. Every reaction from a supposedly safe product is a failure of the system meant to protect vulnerable consumers.

As a parent, I want my son to be able to grab a snack without me needing to investigate its manufacturing history. I want him to trust that food labeled safe actually is safe. The current system doesn’t deliver that, and the advocacy work pushing for change is long overdue.

What Happens Next

Public comment periods inform regulatory action, but they don’t guarantee it. The FDA will review submissions from the Celiac Disease Foundation and other stakeholders, weigh them against industry concerns about cost and implementation, and eventually decide whether to propose new rules.

If new regulations do move forward, they’ll go through additional rounds of public comment before being finalized. That means meaningful change is still years away, even in the best-case scenario. But advocacy works by building momentum over time. Every comment submitted, every meeting attended, every piece of data shared moves the conversation forward.

The Celiac Disease Foundation’s work this year is part of that long game. They’re not just asking for vague improvements—they’re submitting specific, evidence-based recommendations that could be translated directly into regulatory language. They’re participating in global standard-setting conversations to ensure U.S. policy aligns with international best practices. And they’re keeping pressure on the FDA to prioritize celiac safety in a food system that too often treats it as optional.

The Bigger Picture

Labeling advocacy is unglamorous work. It happens in comment periods and working group meetings, not in headlines. But for celiac families, it’s foundational. Every other accommodation—school meal plans, restaurant protocols, travel preparation—depends on being able to trust the safety information on a package.

Right now, that trust is conditional. We trust manufacturers who voluntarily disclose cross-contact risk. We trust brands that go beyond minimum requirements. We trust our own ability to spot red flags and ask the right questions. But we shouldn’t have to rely on voluntary disclosure and detective work to keep celiac patients safe.

The advocacy happening now is about building a system where safety information is standard, not optional. Where manufacturers are required to disclose cross-contact risk clearly. Where preventive controls are strong enough that cross-contact becomes the exception, not the assumed risk.

That’s the goal. The Celiac Disease Foundation’s 2026 advocacy work is another step toward it.

Related Coverage

• FDA moves toward tougher gluten labeling rules
• CCFL49 Forwards Science-Based Guidance for Precautionary Labeling of Cereals Containing Gluten for Final Adoption

References

1. Celiac Disease Foundation. “Advocating for Clearer Labeling of Gluten in the U.S.” May 28, 2026. https://celiac.org/2026/05/28/advocating-for-clearer-labeling-of-gluten-in-the-u-s/