I was recently diagnosed with an uncommon allergy, a situation that has opened my eyes to the reality of allergen information disclosure in our society. It came as a shock to me that companies can hide behind "proprietary" blends and not disclose if my allergen is present in their product. This lack of transparency puts many people's health at risk.

It is common knowledge that companies are required by law to disclose the presence of the big nine allergens. However, there are countless other allergies out there, and those affected by them deserve equal protection and consideration. The current policy neglects a significant portion of our population who suffer from less common allergies.

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), up to 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18 – roughly two in every classroom (FARE, 2019). Not all these cases fall under the big nine allergens; many individuals have unique or uncommon allergies that can be just as severe.

The time has come for us to demand full transparency from all companies regarding their products' ingredients and potential allergens—not just for those with common allergies but for everyone's safety and wellbeing. I think it's beyond time to change these requirements! The FDA needs to reconsider transparency in what's in our food. I'm all for proprietary rights, and I want companies to be able to keep their "secret recipes", but legitimate claims for disclosure of allergenic ingredients should be required. It's simply the right thing to do. 

Please sign this petition today demanding mandatory comprehensive disclosure of all potential allergens by food manufacturers regardless of how rare or uncommon they might be. Your signature could make a difference in millions of lives across our nation!