We need your help! Contact your congressman about the Gluten in Medication Identification Act
You may not worry too much about gluten when you take an over-the-counter medication for a headache or sore back. But if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance, you probably should.
Drug manufacturers use “excipients” to bind medications together and form the ingredients into a capsule or pill form. Frequently, the excipients include a product derived from grain.
Here’s the rub. Unlike laws governing food labeling, there are currently no federal laws on the books that mandate drug manufacturers to divulge when gluten is present in medications. That means if you have celiac disease, you risk exposure just by taking a vitamin, herbal remedy or prescription drug.
Fortunately, some Washington lawmakers are on our side. A bill currently stuck in a House of Representatives committee seeks to require drugs that contain ingredients derived from a grain be labeled as such.
The “Gluten in Medicine Identification Act” was originally introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Rep. Nita Lowery (D-N.Y.). The bill is currently in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Since it was introduced, it’s gained 26 co-sponsors.
You can help the Gluten in Medicine Identification Act get out of committee and reach the House floor for a vote. Ask your Congressman or Congresswoman to sign on as a cosponsor of the bill.
Identify your representative by entering your zip code here. Make sure he or she knows the bill can prevent further bodily harm among people with celiac-related disorders.