Alpha-gal syndrome is at the heart of two new federal bills that aim to support Americans living with the tick-triggered allergy. Virginia Senator Mark Warner introduced the two bills in the Senate in September.
One of the bills, the Alpha-Gal Allergen Inclusion Act, would add alpha-gal to the U.S. list of top allergens. If passed, it would require packaged food manufacturers to label for the alpha-gal sugar molecule, which is found in red meat and byproducts. The other bill, dubbed the STOP TICKS Act, would bolster funding and preventative measures for tick-borne diseases.
Warner says of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), “more and more people are seeing firsthand just how disruptive and dangerous this condition can be. All it takes is one tick bite to leave someone managing a potentially severe allergy for years, if not the rest of their life.”
The senator tells Allergic Living that he introduced the labeling legislation “so that people living with this condition can rely on consistent, easy-to-read information.”
The Inclusion Act would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (or FALCPA) labeling law. That law, enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, requires food makers to clearly label major allergens on packaged foods.
In this unique allergy, the bite of a Lone Star tick transmits a sugar molecule, known as alpha-gal (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose). For some people, when alpha-gal enters the bloodstream it sets off the production of IgE antibodies. Those antibodies then trigger allergic reactions to meat, such as beef, lamb, venison and pork. Many people with alpha-gal syndrome also can’t consume cow’s milk, gelatin or other mammalian products.
Alpha-Gal: Food Label Guesswork
Warner’s state of Virginia has a high incidence of alpha-gal syndrome. “I’ve seen this impact a number of my friends who now struggle to determine whether the foods and products they’re used to buying from the grocery store are safe,” the senator says.
For those living with AGS, it can be a challenge to shop for food. It’s not easily apparent whether products contain alpha-gal based on existing ingredient label information.
“Reading a label should not require guesswork or a call to the manufacturer,” say Candice Matthis and Debbie Nichols. They are co-founders of the nonprofit Alpha-gal Foundation and the blog Two Alpha Gals. “Clear allergen labeling would give people with AGS the confidence to shop, cook, and share meals without fear.”
The way alpha-gal and its sources would be specifically listed on a label has yet to be determined. If the Inclusion Act passes, the FDA will set up a system for labeling products with alpha-gal so consumers can quickly identify the allergen, Warner explains.
The bill he introduced on September 24, 2026, would go into effect 18 months after it is enacted. U.S. Congressman Jefferson Van Drew has introduced its companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Funding for Tick-Borne Diseases
Warner also introduced the STOP TICKS (Strengthening Tick-borne disease Opposition and Prevention Through Investment in Collaboration, Knowledge, and Surveillance) Act to boost funding and research.
“We need to do more to prevent alpha-gal syndrome and other tick-borne diseases in the first place,” he says.
The bill would reauthorize and expand a federal working group on tick-borne disease, and increase grant funding for states and researchers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants would support research focused on understanding and responding to tick-borne diseases.
You can contact your lawmakers to urge them to support the two new bills related to alpha-gal. The Alpha-gal Alliance Fund provides a form to send to legislators regarding the Inclusion Act. Several other food allergy nonprofits are also supporting the labeling bill.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Growing Scourge
Warner points to the increase in cases of alpha-gal syndrome throughout the United States as evidence of the need for legislation.
The CDC released data in 2023 that revealed about 110,000 cases of AGS in the United States over a decade. But CDC researchers estimate the true number of Americans with the alpha-gal allergy is closer to 450,000.
Another study in 2025 by researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University found a 100-fold rise in rates of AGS among those who tested positive for alpha-gal IgE antibodies over a decade.
“Investing in research and prevention” is essential “to better understand why these diseases are spreading and find more effective ways to combat them,” Warner says.
Related Reading:
Almost Half of U.S. Health Providers Unaware of Alpha-Gal Allergy
Dr. Commins on AGS: From Testing to Dairy and Meat Fumes
