New York Senate Passes Bill to Ban Harmful Food Additives

By Blake Jackson

New York State is making a safer food supply with the Senate’s recent passage of the New York Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act.

The proposed legislation aims to ban or regulate three potentially harmful chemicals-potassium bromate, propyl paraben, and Red Dye No. 3-from food produced, distributed, or sold in the state. The bill will now move forward for consideration by the Assembly Standing Committee on Codes.

Introduced by State Senator Brian Kavanagh (D-District 27) and Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles (D-District 125), the legislation has the backing of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). If enacted, the law would mark a significant shift in how food chemicals are regulated, creating new standards for safety and transparency.

A key feature of the bill is its requirement for food and chemical companies to provide evidence proving the safety of substances used in their products-particularly those previously accepted under the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loophole.

This data would be compiled into a publicly accessible food chemical safety database, offering consumers, health professionals, and the FDA greater insight into what’s in our food.

This initiative follows a similar effort in California, where lawmakers recently passed a ban on four harmful food chemicals, including the three identified in New York’s bill. Other states are exploring comparable measures, and the FDA has also announced plans to prohibit the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food products.

"This bill takes a vital step in protecting New Yorkers from harmful chemicals in their food and sets a precedent for improving food safety by increasing transparency about what is in our food nationwide. We all deserve to know what’s in the food we eat and feed to our families," said Jessica Hernandez, EWG’s policy director for government affairs.

"In the absence of robust federal action, states like New York must lead the way in protecting consumers and children from food additives linked to health risks. We commend Sen. Kavanagh and Assemblymember Kelles for their leadership and commitment to protecting public health and making sure our food is safe. This is a win both for the health of all New Yorkers and for the rest of the country."

Photo Credit: gettyimages-fatcamera