Celiac disease and gluten-free advocates are celebrating this morning as the gluten-free labeling petition has reached its goal of 25,000 signatures. Posted on WhiteHouse.gov, the petition called for urgency in passing a long-awaited standard definition of “gluten-free,” and now qualifies for an official response.

The petition’s creator, Jennifer Iscol, President of the Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California, shared her thanks in an email to the celiac and gluten-free community. She noted that the White House granted a 2-day extension on the petition’s deadline, presumably in light of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The final signatures came in just after midnight on November 1 – the original deadline.

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) joined other national celiac organizations in sharing a letter of support for the gluten-free labeling petition (Read the letter). This letter was part of a widespread push that generated more than 9,000 signatures in the final days.

NFCA congratulates the entire community and all supporters on this successful, united effort.