FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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ARLINGTON, Va. — The Consumer Brands Association released the following statement from Roberta Wagner, vice president of regulatory and technical affairs, after the United States Senate unanimously passed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act (S. 3451), which adds sesame as the ninth major allergen and enhances labeling requirements to help those with sesame allergies avoid foods containing this ingredient:

“Consumer Brands is encouraged by the Senate’s passage of the FASTER Act, which implements common-sense solutions for the millions of consumers living with food allergies. We’d especially like to thank Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) for their leadership in addressing an issue that impacts millions of U.S. consumers and for advancing a process that will bring regulatory certainty to the consumer packaged goods industry.

“This legislation also requires a report to Congress that must include strategies for filling long-known science gaps regarding the prevalence of food allergies and recommendations for the development of a regulatory framework to allow for the timely, transparent and evidence-based modification of the definition of a ‘major food allergen,’ that includes opportunities for stakeholder engagement and comment. Senator Scott’s recognition of the need for FDA to identify a clear process for designating major allergens in the future is particularly important, as brands continually work to align evolving consumer expectations with antiquated regulatory processes.

“The consumer packaged goods industry is in favor of transparent and consistent safety standards across the country, and the FASTER Act is a necessary step toward ensuring a uniform regulatory framework that communicates clear and reliable information for every American, no matter which state they live in. We now urge the House of Representatives to pass this bill so it can be expeditiously signed into law.”

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The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry whose products Americans depend on every day, representing more than 1,700 iconic brands. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a vital role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting more than 20 million American jobs.