The ADINA Act Will Go a Long Way Toward Safeguarding the Allergic Community (But We Need More)

At 11 years of age, Adina Togal — who is coping with autoimmune diseases, a milk allergy, and celiac disease — became ill at summer camp and was prescribed antibiotics.

Her parents called the manufacturer to ensure the drug contained no allergens nor was produced on shared lines with allergens, but the customer service rep would not confirm or deny their presence.

After taking the antibiotic, Adina suffered a severe reaction and was taken to the emergency department, and was subsequently admitted to the hospital.

Said US Representative Dean Phillips from Minnesota in a press release from June of last year:

Everyone has a right to know what’s going into their body, whether it be medication or food. Without proper labeling, taking medication for a simple illness could have detrimental or even deadly side effects for people living with severe food allergies. I’m grateful Adina and her family brought this issue to my attention, and I encourage my colleagues to support the ADINA Act for a safer, healthier future for those with food allergies.

The ADINA (Allergen Disclosure in Non-Food Articles) Act would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the label of a drug intended for human use to identify each ingredient in such drug that is, or is derived directly or indirectly from, a major food allergen or a gluten-containing grain, and for other purposes. It is currently pending in both houses of Congress.

Added US Representative Mikie Sherrill on New Jersey:

Over 90 percent of medications contain potential allergens for people with life-threatening food allergies, intolerances, or Celiac disease. Yet too many medicine containers do not provide the appropriate warnings of this threat on their labels. The over 327,000 New Jerseyans with food allergies should not have to fear taking medicine that could cause a harmful reaction. This bipartisan and commonsense change to federal guidelines will help protect millions of Americans from dangerous exposure.

We at SnackSafely.com wholeheartedly support passage of the ADINA Act, which will go a long way toward protecting the allergic community from inadvertent reactions.

That said, we urge follow-on legislation that will extend ADINA as it suffers from the same shortcoming as the FDA’s food allergen labeling regulations: Manufacturers will still not be required to disclose all of a product’s ingredients, leaving many who are allergic to allergens outside the Top 9 to fend for themselves.

The Top 9 allergens, as established by FALCPA and FASTER, are responsible for 90% of allergic reactions. Why are we omitting the triggers for the remaining 10%?

Every person has the right to know PRECISELY what they are putting in their body. We need additional legislation that will mandate that all ingredients be clearly disclosed on food and drug labels.

These Four Changes Would Make Food Labeling MUCH Safer for the Allergic Community