06-02-2025
Bill to ban some food additives moves to full Illinois Senate
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers have renewed their push to pass a food safety bill that would ban certain additives shown to negatively impact human health.
On Tuesday, Senate Bill 93, also known as the Illinois Food Safety Act, passed the Senate Public Health Committee and will now advance to the full body for consideration.
'We have taken a pivotal step forward to protect all Illinoisans,' said Sen. Willie Preston (D-Chicago). 'A significant milestone in our effort to protect every Illinoisan from having a dangerous, poisonous food supply.'
If passed, it would ban certain additives in candy, soda, and other food items sold and manufactured in Illinois. The bill, which is a bipartisan effort, had support in the Senate last spring but failed to make it to the House.
'We've worked diligently to create legislation that is fair, that is science-based, and that is effective,' said Preston, who introduced the legislation.
In its current language, which Preston will look to modify considering recent federal developments, Senate Bill 93 includes banning food products containing brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3.
On Jan. 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of red dye No. 3 in food, citing the Delaney Clause, a section of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act that prohibits the use of cancer-causing chemicals in food. Since its approval in 1969, red dye No. 3 has been found in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods: What to know
In July, the FDA also banned the use of BVO in food. It previously was used in small amounts as a stabilizer for fruit flavoring in drinks to keep the citrus flavor from floating to the top.
Preston plans to keep language to ban propylparaben and potassium bromate in food products produced in the state. The bill would also prohibit businesses from selling or distributing food products with these additives.
Propylparaben, according to the Environmental Working Group, is a preservative found in 49-widely available processed foods, including some cinnamon rolls, cakes, and corn tortillas. The group argues propylparaben disrupts the endocrine system, and its been critical of the FDA's failure to take action to ban it in food or to reassess its safety.
Potassium bromate, an oxidizing agent used as a food additive, mostly in the bread-making process to strengthen dough and allow for better rising in the oven, has been flagged by some health experts as posing a serious risk, including a potential for cancer. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services said it may be a carcinogen since it has been shown to cause kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancer in animals.
'Make no mistake: food, and the security of our food, and the quality of our food, is a bipartisan issue,' said Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Carol Stream).
Proponents of the bill argue the legislation would impact people in all areas of Illinois, from rural to urban, including areas of Chicago impacted by food deserts.
'Think about how many people in Illinois would be so much healthier if they didn't have all these unnecessary additives in their food,' said Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago).
Not everyone is in support of the bill. During Tuesday's committee hearing, several people voiced opposition, including lawmakers and food industry representatives who testified.
'Different laws in all 50 states would severely disrupt the economy, and a strong collaborative approach between state and federal policymakers is vital to protect the food supply,' argued Jennifer Gardner with the National Confectioners Association.
'I'm not supporting your bill, but not because I don't believe in it. I think it needs to be managed at the federal level,' said Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport).
If enacted into law, which will still require votes in each chamber before reaching the governor's desk, thousands of products would be impacted, lawmakers said during Tuesday's committee hearing.
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