Carroll Advances Food Allergy Bill Demanding Accurate Ingredient Labeling

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fighting to protect those with severe food allergies, legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, that requires sesame to be clearly marked on food packages passed the Illinois House with bipartisan support.

“People who suffer from food allergies, like my daughter, deserve to know what is in their food,” Carroll said. “These allergies are potentially life-threatening, and my bill puts one more safety measure in place to prevent someone from suffering needlessly from their food allergy.”

Carroll’s House Bill 2123 would require food companies to indicate if sesame is contained in particular foods product by reflecting whether the ingredient is present on the labeling. The bill states these requirements would only be applicable to food for sale to consumers in packaging to prevent burdening the restaurant industry. Carroll’s legislation passed through the Illinois House with vast bipartisan support and now awaits consideration in the Illinois Senate.

“I am committed to addressing inconsistencies and inadequacies when it comes to food labeling,” Carroll said. “Not only is this issue important to me, but it affects many people and they have a right to know what is in their food.”