Celiac Journey Applauds the MAHA Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report

Celiac Journey applauds the release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report, which provides a policy roadmap for addressing the childhood chronic disease crisis.

The Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report details policy reforms that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of 3.3 million Americans with Celiac Disease, including about 729,000 children. The MAHA Strategy Report includes language on Celiac Disease and requiring the labeling of Gluten as a food allergen:

"Food Allergies: FDA will develop guidance on diagnostics and treatments for food allergies. FDA will also make recommendations about requiring transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with Celiac disease, and other established food allergens."

“Eating without fear is our goal,” stated Jax Bari, age 12, who is a Co-Founder of Celiac Journey. “Since 2020, I’ve been advocating for Gluten to be declared as a Major Food Allergen in the United States and requiring the labeling of Gluten. 87 other countries require that Gluten be declared on all food labels. I’m grateful to President Trump, Secretary Kennedy and the MAHA Commission for listening to my common sense solution to Make America Healthier Again for millions of Americans like me with Celiac Disease.”

Jax has joined forces with kids around the country calling for change including Jude Leibson, a 6^th grader in New York. Jax and Jude are speaking out on real-life kitchen table issues with new ways to Make America Healthy Again. Out of the mouths of babes...

“This is so amazing,” stated Jude Leibson. “44% of Celiacs who follow a strict Gluten Free diet still get glutened once per month. I was glutened right before I started school, and I was sick for days! It was awful.”

“Celiac is a disease, not a diet. It’s time to end the Gluten guessing game with the voluntary labeling of Gluten. We are grateful to the MAHA Commission for prioritizing common sense solutions and gold-standard science to address food allergies and autoimmune diseases that our children face with every bite, every day,” stated Jon Bari, Co-Founder of Celiac Journey. “Gluten is found in Wheat, Barley, Rye and most Oats. Since 2006, Wheat has been required to be labeled in the U.S., but not Barley, Rye and Oats. We look forward to FDA Commissioner Makary and HHS Secretary Kennedy issuing rulemaking to the require the labeling of Barley, Rye and Oats.”

“Food labels are confusing and incomplete, often resulting in fear, uncertainty and accidental glutenings,” said Leslie Bari, Jax’s mom and Founder of @GlutenFreeFinds_pa. “Until there's a treatment for Celiac Disease other than a Gluten Free diet, we believe that requiring the labeling of Gluten will have the greatest impact on improving safety and quality of life for millions with Celiac Disease and their loved ones.”

“As a mom, MAHA’s push for transparency of Gluten ingredients on all packaged foods in the United States brings me tears of relief,” stated Staci Leibson, Founder of The Celiac Shift & Community4Celiac. “When our son, Jude, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it felt like our whole world shattered. It was devastating and terrifying. Then came the endless stress of decoding confusing U.S. food labels. We pray each time we make a purchase that hidden sources of Gluten are not in the foods we are buying. Families, like ours and countless others in this country, deserve honesty and transparency on all packaged foods labels so we can protect our kids without living in constant fear.”

About Celiac Journey

Celiac Journey is an all-volunteer pediatric patient advocacy organization working to:

1. Require that Gluten be labeled as a top 10 Major Food Allergen on all packaged foods in the United States, just like Gluten must be declared on all food labels in 87 other countries, including across Europe and in Canada, and
2. Increase government funding for Celiac Disease research to find a cure and more treatment options, other than a strict Gluten Free diet for life.

Learn more:

www.celiacjourney.com/mahareport

Watch Jax & Jude Tell Their Story:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOZ-4GujnKa/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250911774385/en/

FDA will develop guidance on diagnostics and treatments for food allergies. FDA will also make recommendations about requiring transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with Celiac disease...