500 signatures in 4 days, 11 hours, and 58 minutes.

We’re asking McDonald’s USA and Wendy’s to test affordable meals for kids and adults with celiac disease at select U.S. locations, with independently verified steps to prevent gluten cross-contact.

I started this because I want my son to have more choices and fewer moments where he has to ask, “Is there anything here I can eat?” The stories people have shared remind me how many families know that feeling. There’s the work of figuring out what’s safe, and there’s the part people don’t always see: how it feels to be the kid who has to sit out while everyone else eats.

To McDonald’s USA and Wendy’s: We’re asking you to take this seriously and test what’s possible. Start with a small pilot for affordable meals that people with celiac disease can order with confidence. Bring in food safety experts, train staff, verify the steps that prevent gluten cross-contact, and explain those steps to families. For people with food allergies, assess their needs separately and be clear about what you can safely offer.

There’s a business reason to look at this, too. When one person in the car can’t eat, the whole family may go somewhere else. A pilot gives you a way to see how many of those families would stop, what they’d order, and whether they’d come back. If either company can show that it works, other restaurants and food makers will have something concrete to learn from.

To the public officials and other decision-makers following this petition, we’d welcome your help getting these families heard. People across party lines can agree that families deserve clear information and more options they can trust.

We don’t hold the keys to those kitchens. We do get to decide where our families spend their money, and we can tell these companies what it would take to earn our business. We’ll keep bringing that message to the people who can act on it.

Even if you never plan to eat at either chain, your signature can help a family that would love to have the choice. Sign, share this with one person, or tell us what a dependable option would mean to you. You can add a written comment or a short video here. Media inquiries are welcome, and I’ll share updates here as we keep going.

Less gluten, more smiles. Thanks for being part of this.