Xavier Becerra said at last week’s CNN California gubernatorial debate that he should be judged on his record. I agree.
When I look at Becerra’s record as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), I don’t see leadership. I see failed opportunities to protect my son — and hundreds of thousands of children like him with chronic diet-related diseases.
In the spirit of May being celiac disease awareness month, I want to share my family’s story.
My 13-year-old son, Jax, has celiac, a serious autoimmune disease and food allergy triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and most oats. Gluten ingestion for celiacs can cause more than 200 debilitating symptoms — including anemia, cancer, diarrhea, intestinal damage, malnutrition and vomiting.
The only treatment is strict, lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. But in the United States, only wheat is required to be labeled as an allergen, but not barley, rye and oats. This has created a massive safety gap.
Jax’s goal is to eat without fear. So he filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 and presented a simple common-sense solution: require clear labeling of gluten on all packaged foods as a major food allergens.
Jax met with policymakers across Washington. In January 2024,Jax was personally invited by Secretary Becerra to the HHS Food is Medicine Summit, where Jax met directly with Becerra, and made his case.
At the summit, Becerra publicly spoke passionately about prevention.
But that’s exactlywhy Becerra’s record is so disappointing.
Because when my son asked for help preventing harm, the system Becerra led failed to deliver.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
