The Illinois Senate has passed a bill banning several food additives found in some candies and sodas, sending the measure to the House.
According to a press release from State Senator Willie Preston, the Illinois Food Safety Act would ban a quartet of food additives, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red coloring no. 3.
“This legislation, at its simplest, increases food security for Illinois residents,” Preston said in a statement. “These substances have been used in food for decades, and new evidence shows they can pose serious threats to our health and that of our children. »
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is among those who have expressed support for the bill.
“This legislation does not seek to ban any products or take away any of our favorite foods,” Preston said. “This measure sets a precedent for consumer health and safety by encouraging food manufacturers to update their recipes to use safer alternative ingredients. »
California passed similar legislation last year, paving the way for Illinois and other states to consider bills related to additives.
“The FDA has failed to take action on this urgent matter,” Preston said in a statement. “Safer alternatives are already in use in the EU and elsewhere. We need to ensure that safer choices are available to Illinois families and, hopefully, other states will follow so that all consumers have access to the healthiest options.
If passed, the law sets a January 1, 2028 deadline for companies to modify the foods they produce and sell in the state.
In November 2023, the FDA proposed repealing the regulations authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food. The FDA says the studies show adverse health effects in animals “closer to real-world exposure,” according to a press release.
Studies “have demonstrated bromine bioaccumulation and toxic effects on the thyroid,” according to the FDA.
Brominated vegetable oil is used to stabilize the flavor of fruits in drinks, preventing the aroma from floating to the surface of the drink.
However, few drinks still contain it, according to the FDA.
According to the National Institutes of Health, potassium bromate is an oxidizing agent present mainly in the bread-making process. Studies have expressed concerns about the substance’s “carcinogenic” effect on the kidneys and thyroid.
Propylparaben is used as an antimicrobial preservative in foods. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill banning its use, citing concerns about its potential disruption of the endocrine system and potential impacts on reproductive health.
Red No. 3 was also banned in California, with lawmakers citing the state’s Environmental Protection Agency, which found evidence that the dye could negatively impact children’s behavior.
If adopted, the bill would come into force on January 1, 2028, and would impose fines on businesses or individuals who violate the ban.
NBC Chicago
