Lawsuit Filed Against FDA: Gluten In Medication
Concerned Celiac Citizen Files Lawsuit Against FDA For Dragging Its Feet…
People who suffer from a gluten sensitivity or intolerance have to be careful with anything they eat. If they endure other maladies, the last thing they want is to be glutened by their medication. As it stands, it is rather difficult to determine if the fillers used by drug companies use gluten as there is no requirement for them to disclose that information. Back in 2008, a concerned citizen who has Celiac disease petitioned the FDA to make the disclosure law. Fast forward to 2015 and he has now filed a lawsuit… Read below for the story.
A lawsuit seeking a ban on gluten in medications or labels that clearly indicate when a drug contains gluten has been filed against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The suit was filed on behalf of Michael Weber, of Eastchester, New York, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by the citizen advocacy group, Public Citizen.
Public Citizen says the FDA must act on a 2008 citizen petition by Weber asking that gluten not be used in medications or that it be clearly labeled.The lawsuit calls the delay in FDA action unreasonable “in light of the nature and extent of the public health interests.”
Currently, it’s difficult for those who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to determine whether a drug contains gluten. It’s not required to be listed on the label or in any packaging material. Allergen labeling laws, which require the listing of gluten-containing wheat in food products, do not apply to medications.
As a result they have to spend time researching every drug they take. Brand name and generic drugs use different formulations of inactive ingredients so the search has to be restarted each time a drug comes from a different manufacturer. Patients often have to call drug companies directly.
Public Citizen said Weber and others who have celiac disease have waited too long for the FDA to act. “While the FDA drags its feet, millions who suffer from celiac disease will continue to…risk injury every time they take medications that contain wheat gluten,” said Katie Einspanier, the Public Citizen attorney handling the case.
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Photo courtesy: Gluten Free Living
