New York lawmakers introduce bills to outlaw cancer-causing food additives in cereal and bread- after California became first state to forbid ingredients in 'Skittles ban'
Source: MSN /image: Daily Mail /Author: Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com
New York state officials are moving one stop closer to outlawing seven popular food additives that have been linked to cancer and behavioral issues.
State senator Brian Kavanagh and assembly member Dr Anna Kelles introduced two bills Tuesday that call for banning seven ingredients found in processed foods like candy, cereal, sodas and bread.
The substances on the chopping block are red dye No. 3, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, azodicarbonamide, and BHA.
While the first bill, A6424A, would eliminate those ingredients in New York state, the second, S6055B, would require companies to notify the state when they introduce chemicals into food without being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The proposed legislation comes months after California became the first state to ban red dye No. 3, propylparaben, BVO, and potassium bromate in legislation that was dubbed the 'Skittles ban.'
New York lawmakers introduce bills to outlaw cancer-causing food additives in cereal and bread- after California became first state to forbid ingredients in 'Skittles ban'
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New York state senator Brian Kavanagh (at the podium) and assembly member Dr Anna Kelles (to his left) introduced two bills to ban seven food additives
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Senator Kavanagh said: 'New Yorkers deserve the highest level of protection when it comes to the safety of the food we eat.
'State law has long included the authority to regulate what goes into our food, but New York has generally deferred to the federal government; such deference is not warranted with respect to these seven additives, which pose significant health risks.
'Nor should we defer to the secrecy of the federal process regarding new chemicals that food companies add to our food without any public disclosure or review by the FDA.
'This legislation will ensure transparency and permit public scrutiny of food chemical safety.'
Several medical experts, including pediatricians, voiced their support for the bills.
Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that focuses on environmental health and food additives, said: 'The Food and Drug Administration has failed to protect New Yorkers and other Americans from seven dangerous food additives used in commonly consumed foods and drinks.
‘The FDA also fails to adequately monitor or review newly introduced food chemicals when companies take advantage of loopholes allowing secrecy.’
Jessica Hernandez, policy director at EWG, noted that '99 percent of new food chemicals are tested by industry scientists, not the FDA.'
She added: ‘EWG strongly supports these bills that would increase transparency and ban seven chemicals commonly used in foods.
'It’s up to states like NY to keep us safe. You can have the food you want without the chemicals you hate.'
Jessica Hernandez of the Environmental Working Group (here) and Jensen Jose of the Center for Science in the Public Interest both voiced their support for the bills
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Jessica Hernandez of the Environmental Working Group and Jensen Jose of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (here) both voiced their support for the bills
© Provided by Daily Mail
The substances on the chopping block are red dye No. 3, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, azodicarbonamide, and BHA.
© Provided by Daily Mail
The ingredients that could be banned are prevalent in ultraprocessed foods and have been associated with a host of medical issues.
BVO often shows up in diet and citrus sodas to stop ingredients in fruit-flavored soft drinks from separating.
The substance is made from plants and studies have shown a link to harm to the body's nervous system following long-term exposure.
It has also been linked to the development of chronic headaches, memory loss and impaired balance. It was previously in the soda Mountain Dew until parent company Pepsi removed the ingredient in 2020.
Titanium dioxide is found in many candies and sweets. It is a substance that has been shown to cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
And red dye No. 3 is responsible for bright red colors in candies like Skittles and lollipops.
Studies show that Red No.3 in high doses is strongly linked to cancer in laboratory animals and has been linked to behavioral issues in children.
The US banned it from cosmetic products in the 1990s, but it remains in many food products still sold in the US.
A pair of studies in 2016 found it was in more than one in 10 candies in the US and more than 80 percent of children under two had consumed it in the previous two weeks.
Potassium bromate is a chemical compound commonly found in bread in the US. It is added to dough to make it stronger and improve rising.
But the ingredient, which has been banned in the European Union, China and India because of its dangerous impact on health, has been shown to cause nose, throat and lung irritation.
It has also been shown in lab tests to cause renal and thyroid tumors to form in rats.
Propylparaben occurs as a natural substance in plants and some insects. It is typically used in a variety of water-based cosmetics and personal-care products, as well as a food additive.
The substance, however, has been shown to cause endocrine disruption and reproductive issues.
Azodicarbonamide is a chemical compound approved by the FDA to use as a whitening agent and is used to strengthen and enhance the elasticity of dough in cereal flour and bread dough.
It is sometimes called the ‘yoga mat’ chemical because it is widely used in foamed plastics. The additive is banned in Europe and Australia.
While not classified as a carcinogen, some case reports and epidemiological studies in humans have produced evidence the compound can induce asthma and respiratory symptoms, as well as skin irritation.
BHA is a synthetic petrochemical used widely as a preservative in cereals and other dry goods.