SB 629 — An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in food protection, providing for labeling of food products with gluten-containing grains.

PRINTER'S NO.   621

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           SENATE BILL
                           No. 629
                                                   Session of
                                                     2025

     INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, HAYWOOD, COMITTA, PENNYCUICK, COSTA,
        SAVAL, TARTAGLIONE AND MARTIN, APRIL 11, 2025

     REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, APRIL 11, 2025


                                        AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in food protection, providing for labeling of food
 3      products with gluten-containing grains.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.        Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
 7   is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 5735.1.      Labeling of food products with gluten-containing
 9                  grains.
10      (a)   Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
11   Assembly finds and declares as follows:
12            (1)    Celiac disease is a potentially life-threatening and
13      life-debilitating food allergy, autoimmune disease and
14      digestive disease triggered by eating gluten.
15            (2)    Individuals living with celiac disease, non-celiac
16      gluten sensitivity and other related food allergies are
17      subject to gluten-induced sicknesses, which may:
18                  (i)    Involve myriad symptoms, including vomiting,
 1            diarrhea, cramping, joint pain, fatigue and brain fog.
 2                  (ii)    Result in damage to intestinal lining,
 3            malnutrition, permanent immunological scarring, iron
 4            deficiency anemia, diarrhea, vomiting, migraines,
 5            osteoporosis, additional autoimmune diseases, heart
 6            disease, intestinal cancers and potentially life-
 7            threatening anaphylaxis.
 8            (3)   The labeling of gluten-containing grains is a key
 9      component to improve the health and safety of the residents
10      of this Commonwealth who live with celiac disease, non-celiac
11      gluten sensitivity and other related food allergies.
12      (b)   Labeling.--In addition to any other labeling requirement
13   under Federal or State law, the following apply to the labeling
14   of a food product manufactured, sold or distributed in this
15   Commonwealth:
16            (1)   If the food product contains gluten or an ingredient
17      derived from a gluten-containing grain, the label shall:
18                  (i)    Specify the content of gluten in the food
19            product.
20                  (ii)    Include a statement that food products
21            containing gluten may cause adverse health effects in
22            individuals with celiac disease or certain food
23            sensitivities or intolerances.
24            (2)   The label of the food product may specify that the
25      food product is gluten free if:
26                  (i)    the food product does not contain gluten or an
27            ingredient derived from a gluten-containing grain;
28                  (ii)    the food product contains less that 20 parts
29            per million gluten; or
30                  (iii)    the ingredients of the food product have been

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 1            processed to remove gluten.
 2      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 3   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 4   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "Gluten."    The proteins that:
 6            (1)   naturally occur in a gluten-containing grain; and
 7            (2)   cause adverse health effects in individuals with
 8      celiac disease or certain food sensitivities or intolerances.
 9      "Gluten-containing grain."    Any of the following grains or a
10   crossbred hybrid of any of the following grains:
11            (1)   Wheat, including any species belonging to the genus
12      Triticum.
13            (2)   Rye, including any species belonging to the genus
14      Secale.
15            (3)   Barley, including any species belonging to the genus
16      Hordeum.
17            (4)   Oat, including any species belonging to the genus
18      Avena sativa.
19      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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