The Food Allergy Talk Podcast Episode 43: The Adina Act | OTC and RX Medication Legislation with Jennifer Togal
On this episode of Food Allergy Talk, I welcome Jennifer Togal. Jennifer is mom to Adina, the spark behind The Adina Act, which will require all OTC and RX medications to be labeled with any applicable food allergens and/or gluten ingredients and related information.
Jennifer carries an EpiPen herself and Adina has Celiac disease, a dairy allergy, and they both have EoE. They live in the Minneapolis, Minnesota suburbs.
Get Involved and Contact Your Congressmen and Senators to Ask for Support of The ADINA Act
Links referenced in this podcast include:
- The ADINA Act Linktree
The Linktree has links to a 1-pager fact sheet (first link on page), press releases as well as news stories about the ADINA Act.
- FARE Link to Auto-Send Letters to Congressmen and Senators
https://foodallergy.quorum.us/campaign/48768/
- The ADINA Act Instagram
- The ADINA Act FB Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3347959928865461/
- Locate Your US Representative
- Locate Your US Senator
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Making a Phone Call or Writing a Letter to Your Congressmen or Senators
Not sure what to say when making a phone call or writing a letter to your elected officials? Here are some sample templates you can use. Copy and paste from this page, or download the Word file. Feel free to edit as you see fit, and personalize it as you feel comfortable with.
Calling/Letter templates
When making a phone call
Hello, my name is ____________________________, and I’m one of your constituents from __________________________. I’m calling to ask ____________________________________ to support the ADINA Act, H.R. 4263 and S. 2079. I (or a family member) have celiac disease (or a gluten related-disorder) and must make sure to not eat any gluten, including from medications. If passed, this legislation would be a game-changer. It would require the label of a drug intended for human use to identify each ingredient that is, or is derived directly or indirectly from a major food allergen or a gluten-containing grain. Right now, it is very difficult to find out if a medication includes any gluten-containing ingredients. In fact, at least one commercial pharmacy expressly states to their pharmacists that they should advise consumers requesting gluten-free medications that there is no definitive way to guarantee that any given drug product is gluten-free. Just imagine having to take a medication knowing that it could contain undisclosed gluten. This bill would help to ensure that the medications we take or give members of our family are safe. Without this legislation, we will continue to wonder if we are unknowingly taking medications that contain gluten. Worse yet, we may delay a needed medication because we can’t find out if it contains gluten. Please consider cosponsoring this bill. Thank you so much for your time.
When writing a letter
Dear ______________________________
On June 21st, The ADINA Act, a bipartisan bill (H.R.4263, S.2079)) was introduced by Representatives Dean Phillips (D-MN-3), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Representative Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (S.2079). If passed, this bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the label of a drug intended for human use to identify each ingredient that is, or is derived directly or indirectly from, a major food allergen or a gluten-containing grain.
Right now, it is very difficult to find out if a medication includes any gluten-containing ingredients. In fact, at least one commercial pharmacy expressly states to their pharmacists that they should advise consumers requesting gluten-free medications that there is no definitive way to guarantee that any given drug product is gluten-free. Just imagine having to take a medication knowing that it could contain undisclosed gluten. This bill would help to ensure that the medications we take or give members of our family are safe. Without this legislation, we will continue to wonder if we are unknowingly taking medications that contain gluten. Worse yet, we may delay a needed medication because we can’t find out if it contains gluten.
Thank you for your time and for considering my request to cosponsor this bill.
Sincerely,
