Critical Bipartisan Food Allergy Legislation Before Congress

McLean, Va. (January 24, 2020) – FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), the world’s largest private funder of food allergy research and leading food allergy organization, is pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce has scheduled a hearing entitled “Improving Safety and Transparency in America’s Food and Drugs” which will include H.R. 2117 - the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act. The hearing is set to take place on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 10 am (ET) in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building (Subcommittee on Health).

FARE has mobilized the food allergy community to encourage Congress to pass this critical legislation. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-06-CA) has taken the lead on introducing the legislation which has garnered support from both sides of the aisle, including from the Problem Solvers Caucus.

“Today, 32 million Americans are living with food allergies and have been waiting far too long for Congress to step forward with policy solutions to address this growing epidemic,” said Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of FARE. “We are encouraged by the 

growing bipartisan support for this legislation in the House of Representatives and look forward to seeing it signed into law as soon as possible.”

Food allergy in the United States is now a public health crisis impacting more than 32 million Americans many who suffer from potentially life-threatening food allergies. If passed, the FASTER Act would recognize sesame as the ninth top allergen covered under the Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and would add more flexibility around emerging allergens. The FASTER Act would also establish additional funding for research into the true impact of food allergies and better support the development of new treatments and therapies.

The hearing will include testimony from community advocates including Talia Day, mother of three children with severe, life-threatening food allergies including sesame and an advocate for food allergy research and innovation. Day will share with subcommittee membership her personal experiences as a parent to children with multiple food allergies who knows firsthand the stress and anxiety associated with living each day with food allergies and why the FASTER Act is so critical.