H.R. 1178 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Feb 10, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAdds alpha-gal to required food allergen labels
Right now, food companies have to label certain major allergens like peanuts and shellfish. This bill would expand that list to include alpha-gal, a molecule found in red meat and other mammal-based products. Alpha-gal is important because some people develop an allergy to it after being bitten by certain ticks, a condition called alpha-gal syndrome.
How it affects you
If you have alpha-gal syndrome, this change would make it easier to spot which foods contain alpha-gal when you're shopping or eating. Food companies would need to clearly label products with this allergen, just like they do for other major allergens, so you'd know what to avoid.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 10, 2025)
Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act
This bill expands the definition of major food allergen to include galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (commonly known as alpha-gal ). Under current law, food labels generally must identify each major food allergen found in labeled food products.
(Certain tick bites cause an allergic condition known as alpha-gal syndrome that can result in an allergy to the alpha-gal molecule, which is found in red meat and other products made from mammals.)
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1178
A BILL
Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-2) · Introduced Feb 10, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 10, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.”