Bill > S5498

This bill, titled the Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act, updates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to officially classify alpha-gal—a sugar molecule found in most mammals and certain red algae that can cause a severe red meat and dairy allergy, often transmitted by lone star tick bites—as a major food allergen, which requires food manufacturers to clearly identify its presence on product labels to protect sensitive consumers. Taking effect 18 months after becoming law, the legislation specifically covers ingredients derived from non-human mammals and specific red algae while exempting mammal-derived ingredients that the government determines are free of detectable alpha-gal, such as those produced by genetically modified animals engineered not to carry the sugar.