Celiac Safety Gets a Boost: Illinois Senate Bill 1288 Heads to Governor’s Desk
Celiac Disease Training Bill is A Big Win for Gluten-Free Diners During Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Dining out with celiac disease shouldn’t be a gamble—and in Illinois, it may soon become a whole lot safer with a new celiac disease training bill.
This May, during Celiac Disease Awareness Month, the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1288—a powerful piece of legislation that will require all food handlers in the state to be trained on celiac disease and the safe preparation and handling of gluten-free food. Sponsored by State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason), the bill passed unanimously in both chambers and now heads to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
“This issue became personal to me when a member of my staff was diagnosed with celiac disease,” Turner shared. “It opened my eyes to the daily challenges faced by individuals who must strictly avoid gluten to stay healthy. This legislation is a step forward in making dining safer and easier for those living with this disease.”
“This issue became personal to me when a member of my staff was diagnosed with celiac disease,” Turner shared. “It opened my eyes to the daily challenges faced by individuals who must strictly avoid gluten to stay healthy.
The Personal Story Behind the Policy
This legislation wasn’t written in a vacuum. On the Celiac Project podcast, Senator Turner shared that she was first introduced to the challenges of celiac disease years ago when a friend—and later her friend’s two daughters—were diagnosed.
“I had a good friend of mine who was diagnosed, and I really didn’t think about it in any depth… But then most recently, my chief of staff had been diagnosed with it. She actually had the surgery to find that out, and it became something that really affected her.”
It was a routine restaurant outing with her staff that made the risks crystal clear. When her chief of staff requested a gluten-free menu, the waitress was confused and had to retrieve a spreadsheet from the kitchen to figure out what she could eat.
“It made me hesitant that if the server wasn’t aware, then the person cooking the meal may not be either. And that’s when we decided we had to do something.”
What Senate Bill 1288 Will Require
The bill amends Illinois’ existing Allergen Awareness Training requirements by:
- Including celiac disease and gluten as a specific training topic
- Educating staff on the symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance
- Teaching how to avoid gluten cross-contact in kitchens and service areas
- Emphasizing the proper labeling and communication of gluten-free foods
- Adding sesame as a recognized major food allergen, aligning with FDA guidelines
This comprehensive approach will provide hospitality workers with the tools and knowledge they need to serve guests with celiac disease safely and confidently.
One of the most heartening parts of this story? It passed unanimously. Senator Turner explained:
“All of the people I talked to on both sides of the aisle had someone they knew that had celiac disease. So this was something that was important to everyone.”
Celiac Disease: A Growing Public Health Concern
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune condition that affects an estimated 1 in 100 people worldwide. For those living with the disease, even trace amounts of gluten—found in wheat, barley, and rye—can trigger severe health reactions, including long-term damage to the small intestine.
“All of the people I talked to on both sides of the aisle had someone they knew that had celiac disease. So this was something that was important to everyone.”
“Too many people with celiac disease live in fear of cross-contamination every time they eat out,” Senator Turner emphasized. “By giving food handlers better tools and training, we can help take away some of that anxiety and make sure everyone can dine with greater confidence and safety.”
Why the Celiac Disease Training Bill Matters
This isn’t just a win for people with celiac disease—it’s a win for safe, inclusive dining across the board. By elevating the standard of training for food service professionals, Illinois is raising the bar for what it means to serve responsibly.
The bill’s passage during Celiac Disease Awareness Month underscores a vital truth: awareness is important, but awareness with action is what truly creates change. Alongside the bill, she filed Senate Resolution 253 to formally recognize May as Celiac Awareness Month in Illinois, turning her commitment into a lasting reminder for future legislative efforts.
What’s Next?
If signed into law, Illinois would become a national leader in celiac safety and gluten-free education for foodservice professionals. Let’s hope Illinois’ celiac disease training bill becomes a model for other states to follow.
And thanks to one senator’s personal connection, the celiac community just got one step closer to dining without fear.
Because every guest matters—and every meal should be safe.
