Latest news with #MakeTexasHealthyAgain
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Some popular foods may soon require warning labels in Texas
The Brief Texas could be among the first states to require warning labels on foods containing artificial dyes and some chemicals. Senate Bill 25 is waiting for Gov. Abbott's signature. The bill includes an increased physical activity requirement for middle school students and nutrition education for undergraduate students at colleges and universities. AUSTIN, Texas - The next time a Texan buys a Mountain Dew or a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, they might find a warning that it contains ingredients that other countries say shouldn't be eaten. Senate Bill 25 currently sits on Gov. Greg Abbott's desk awaiting his signature. The bill would require products that contain certain food additives to have a warning label that says those additives are "not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom." The warning label must be placed in a "prominent and reasonably visible" location on the packaging and must be easily readable on the background of the packaging. The bill would only apply to packages produced after Jan. 1, 2027. More than 40 ingredients that could trigger the warning label under the Make Texas Healthy Again bill. READ MORE: FDA aims to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food by end of 2026 The ingredients that would trigger the warning label include: Acetylayed esters of mono- and diglycerides (acetic acid ester) Anisole Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) Bleached flour Blue 1 (CAS 3844-45-9) Blue 2 (CAS 860-22-0) Bromated flour Calcium bromate Canthaxanthin Certified food colors by the United States Food and Drug Administration Citrus red 2 (CAS 6358-53-8) Diacetyl Diacetyl tartaric and fatty acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM) Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS) Ficin Green 3 (CAS 2353-45-9) Interesterified palm oil Interesterified soybean oil Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol Lye Morpholine Olestra Partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) Potassium aluminum sulfate Potassium bromate Potassium iodate Propylene oxide Propylparaben Red 3 (CAS 16423-68-0) Red 4 (CAS 4548-53-2) Red 40 (CAS 25956-17-6) Sodium aluminum sulfate Sodium lauryl sulfate Sodium stearyl fumarate Stearyl tartrate Synthetic trans fatty acid Thiodipropionic acid Titanium dioxide Toluene Yellow 5 (CAS 1934-21-0) Yellow 6 (CAS 2783-94-0) Beyond the food warning labels, SB25 mandates more time for health and exercise in public schools. Currently, students in grades six, seven and eight are required to participate in four semesters of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. That number would increase to six semesters under SB 25. In higher education, students in an undergraduate degree program would be required to take a class in nutrition education as developed by the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee. The committee would be appointed by the governor by Dec. 31, 2025. The seven-member committee would at least include: One expert in metabolic health, culinary medicine, lifestyle medicine, or integrative medicine One licensed physician certified in functional medicine One member representing the Texas Department of Agriculture One member representing a rural community One member representing an urban community One pediatrician specializing in metabolic health Doctors and nurses would be required to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health in order to remain licensed in Texas. The Source Information on Senate Bill 25 comes from the Texas Legislature. Information on products containing artificial dyes comes from those individual ingredient labels.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How RFK Jr., Democrats and Republicans found common ground over food labels in Texas
Months ago, when Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Lois Kolkhorst first held a hearing on Senate Bill 25 — requiring among other things, warning labels on foods containing certain additives — the first person to speak was Calley Means, a top adviser to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. 'Texas can really lead here…These bills represent a Texas way that prioritizes transparency, prioritizes good education and prioritizes incentive change,' said Means, a former food and pharmaceutical consultant, who spearheaded the federal Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. He's also the brother of Casey Means, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. It was a powerful opening to Kolkhorst's first Senate health committee meeting of the year and also signaled immediately that Kolkhorst's SB 25 — also called the Make Texas Healthy Again bill — and other efforts of fellow Republicans dovetailed perfectly with those on the federal level by echoing Kennedy's interests. For a relatively quiet Texas legislative session for health, the RFK effect stands out. Republican-backed bills on everything from putting more regulation on doctors who administer COVID-19 vaccines and letting parents opt out of childhood immunizations more easily, to halting the use of food stamps to purchase sugary drinks and SB 25 have either passed or are about to before the end of session today. It begs the question, though, of exactly who is calling the shots in the Texas Capitol. Is Kennedy directing Texas, using the state as perhaps a test kitchen for his larger initiatives, or is Texas out-MAHA-ing Washington? 'I think it's both,' said James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. 'Long before Robert F. Kennedy gained some kind of surprising legitimacy by being named to the cabinet, these currents were already flowing in Texas, but they just get a lot more momentum from these national figures.' In a way, Washington and Austin have moved in on what was once the Democrats' exclusive turf: consumer health. It's become an easy pivot for Republicans as they incorporate healthy eating and exercise, traditionally left-leaning priorities, into typical GOP talking points such as national security, individual choice and reduction of health care costs. The result has been a seamless state-federal party alliance on an issue that can attract both the left and the right. Ten Democrats signed on in the Senate, and three Democrats in the House sponsored or co-sponsored SB 25. 'This is about the MAHA parents and the crunchy granola parents coming together to say, 'We are sick and tired of being sick and tired,'' Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, said, before SB 25 passed the House on May 25. 'I have personally spoken to the White House who said they are looking to us, to Texas, to get this done to stand for our children and our future.' Alarmed food company executives from across the country flew into Austin when word spread that the Texas Legislature was prioritizing a bill requiring food labeling. A coalition of about 60 industry groups and producers, including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Frito-Lay and General Mills, implored in a letter to Texas lawmakers to strip any requirement to label foods, saying the state 'could destabilize local and regional economies at a time when businesses are already fighting to keep prices down, maintain inventory and avoid layoffs.' As initially filed, SB 25 was wide-ranging, asking producers to put a warning label on any product containing artificial coloring, a food additive or other chemical ingredient banned by Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom. Sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup and aspartame, were then later added to the proposed label list. After pushback from the food industry and from several House members during a 4-hour floor debate a week ago, Hull amended the bill to remove the sweeteners, but kept a list of 40-plus additives that would trigger a warning label. House Democrats still worried that the warning label requirement would push up food costs. 'What we don't want to do is destroy anyone's business and or create such a burden or financial cost that the cost of food will continue to rise,' said state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio. Kolkhorst back in February proclaimed that 'the market will adjust.' The bill was eventually weakened further when state Rep. Gary Van Deaver, a supporter of the bill, successfully proposed a change that invalidates SB 25's state labeling requirements for ingredients if the federal government moves forward with similar or a more far-reaching measure. The state labeling requirements would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 but a loophole exists that if on Dec. 31, 2026 a snack food producer wants to stick with its existing packaging for another decade, no warning label is needed because the new law only 'applies only to a food product label developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027.' Even so, the bill takes a step forward that states across the U.S. are still mulling. For Kolkhorst, the bill boils down to a national conversation about the health of Americans, especially American children. 'This sweeping legislation is not just another bill. It's a call to action — one that so many Texans and Americans are realizing — that something is wrong and that something needs to change in our food industry and in our sedentary lifestyle,' Kolkhorst told The Texas Tribune. While most of the attention has been on the food labeling language, the bill contains a major education plank. SB 25 will require elementary, secondary and postsecondary educational institutions to re-prioritize health and exercise. It also forces health professionals to take continuing education courses regarding nutrition and metabolic health. And it will require recess or physical activity for kids in charter schools – physical activity is already required in public schools. Supporters of the bill, such as the Episcopal Health Foundation and the Meadow's Mental Health Policy Institute, see some big benefits for Texans. 'The amount of money and time we're spending treating diabetes as opposed to preventing it is huge, especially in Texas, especially in certain areas like East Texas,' said Brian Sasser, the foundation's chief communications officer. 'This is an important first step in changing that focus to prevention.' Diabetes care costs Texas Medicaid up to $8 billion annually. In a world that pretends the brain is not part of the body, this bill will put tools in the hands of children, parents and teachers to begin truly addressing emotional health and wellbeing, said Andy Keller, the president and CEO of Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. 'I am proud of the work we have done with the encouragement of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who personally called me and urged the passage of Senate Bill 25,' Kolkhorst said. In the summer of 2024, Kennedy was running for president on a campaign focused on rising chronic health concerns for many Americans, as well as vaccine hesitancy. At that time Means, who became Kennedy's right hand in the MAHA movement, was leading a coalition of health and fitness CEOs in pitching policies designed to rein in additives and promote healthier food choices. The end goal was to force 'Big Food' to offer healthier versions of food, like those found in Europe and Canada, through similar regulations. It's not surprising that Texas lawmakers, who are always on the lookout for the public's next policy fixation jumped on this opportunity, said Henson, of the Texas Politics Project. Lawmakers have to take advantage of openings to pursue agendas that come with some federal support. 'Without that national influence [some bills] might not have gone anywhere,' he said. And, the Trump administration knows how important Texas can be to its causes. As the nation's second largest state, both in size and population, any change in food regulation no matter how small, is expected to have a ripple effect elsewhere. Thirty years ago, regulations on food, the environment and land use, crafted by California's State Assembly, became policy standards for the rest of the country. In recent years, that title has shifted to Texas. The aim of Kolkhorst's bill is to change food formulas or perhaps offer Americans the same formulas sold to countries with stricter additive and coloring standards. Kolkhorst has maintained that no group had a role in crafting her bill, that it was unique to her and her staff based on the concerns of constituents. 'No outside groups provided any language for the filed version of SB 25," she told the Tribune. Nutrition advocates, who often fear legislative cuts to their programs, welcome the plug for more nutrition-backed measures. Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, which represents 20 food banks statewide, praised Kolkhorst and Hull for also spearheading the passage of House Bill 26, which creates a pilot program within Medicaid to offer pregnant moms with nutritional counseling and medically-tailored meals. "We share the Legislature's goal of improving the health of low-income Texans and were very encouraged to see a focus this session on the link between good nutrition and health," Cole said in a statement to the Tribune. Keller found the prospect of state and federal collaboration exciting. Texas ought to lead the nation in the fight for children's health, he said. 'Nothing actually, really happens at a national level,' Keller said. 'Ultimately, all decisions about the well-being of children happen locally.' Sen. Bryan Hughes agrees. Texas waits for no one, he said. His Senate Bill 314 bars certain food additives in free- and reduced-cost school lunches. 'As in so many cases we're not waiting on Washington. We're thankful for what's happening about health in Washington, but we're not going to wait on them. Texas will act,' Hughes said in February. Disclosure: Episcopal Health Foundation, Feeding Texas, and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House vote advances ‘Make Texas Healthy Again' bill
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – Legislation dubbed the 'Make Texas Healthy Again' bill advanced in the Texas House Sunday night. The 105-28 vote showed bipartisan support for Senate Bill 25. The bill would require daily physical activity in public schools, a nutrition curriculum and food labels to warn Texas consumers which ingredients are banned in other countries. 'This is about the average Texan in the grocery store wanting to make healthy choices against a multi trillion dollar industry,' bill sponsor State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston said as she presented the legislation on the House floor. 'Members we need to break the system and address chronic disease,' Hull added. SB 25 would establish the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to create nutritional guidelines for Texans and examine links between food additives and chronic health. The seven-member committee would be appointed by the governor. The legislation would create additional physical education requirements for public school and charter school students. The bill also adds a requirement for the State Board of Education to adopt standards for students to learn about nutritional guidelines. Those guidelines would be recommended by the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee. The bill mirrors some of the elements of the 'Make America Healthy Again' commission established by President Donald Trump and led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., also known as MAHA. The MAHA commission has raised concern over life expectancy in the United States falling below that of other comparable countries. The commission has called for an emphasis on nutrition, lifestyle, and physical activity and for addressing an 'over-reliance on medication and treatments.' 'This is about the MAHA parents coming together with the crunchy granola parents coming together to say we are sick and tired of being sick and tired,' Hull said during her layout. She confirmed that the legislation shares the goals of the Trump administration. 'I have personally spoken to the White House, who said they are looking to us, to Texas, to get this done, to stand for our children and our future,' Hull said during her bill layout. The bill passed the Senate in March with unanimous support. That was not the case Sunday in the House. The vote on Senate Bill 25 came after Democrats attempted to block the legislation six different times by raising a point of order. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle proposed amendments to the bill, 19 in all. Most of the proposed amendments were rejected. The moves slowed down the process of passing SB 25, pushing back consideration of other legislation on the House calendar. The House faces a Tuesday deadline to advance Senate bills on second reading. State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, voted against the bill, despite being in favor of many of the items in the legislation. 'I actually had high hopes for this bill when it was announced because some of the issues, especially dealing with chemicals, dealing with additives, are things that are important to me,' Wu said. 'What I did not expect was that this bill would turn into such a beast that there will be so many musts and shalls just jam down everyone's throats,' Wu continued, referencing concerns he had with the additional requirements on students that he believe could take time away from academics. State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, acknowledged that she saw flaws with the legislation, but she believes the bill will help Texans. 'A lot of the Democratic amendments you heard today were very sincerely put before you because we thought that there were things we could do that could make the bill better,' Howard said. 'But the fact is, I am going to be supporting this bill. I think it takes us in a good direction.' Before the final vote, Hull told her colleagues that Kennedy had called her and praised the bill. 'This is the best bill in the entire nation. They are watching, and they want us to pass this bill,' Hull said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
01-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Lawmakers want to "Make Texas Healthy Again"
Texas Republicans are embracing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s"make America healthy again" agenda, advancing bills banning dyes and other additives in public schools, and limiting junk food for people on food aid. Why it matters: The lawmakers' push comes at a time of falling vaccination rates, rising skepticism toward public health institutions and a growing appetite for "natural" or "clean" living — a trend that can blur the line between wellness and conspiracy. Driving the news: The Texas Senate unanimously passed a broad measure last month that would require manufacturers to include warning labels on food items containing artificial colors or food additives banned in Australia, Canada, the European Union or United Kingdom. Senate Bill 25, dubbed "Make Texas Healthy Again," would require sixth, seventh and eighth grades to participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes during P.E., and create a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to study the link between certain processed foods and chronic diseases. What they're saying:"The commonsense reforms included in SB 25 highlight how important nutrition and exercise are in maintaining overall health," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement after the bill's passage. "By promoting exercise and educating the public about how damaging ultra-processed foods can be, we can make a positive difference in Texans' lives." The measure now awaits a House committee hearing. Zoom in: Other measures target SNAP benefits and free lunch programs. SB 314, also approved by the Senate last month, would ban seven ingredients from reduced-price or free lunch programs at public schools. They include: Brominated vegetable oil and Red Dye No. 3 (both are banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) Potassium bromate, Propylparaben and Azodicarbonamide (used in baked goods) Titanium dioxide (a synthetically produced white pigment) SB 379, which moved to the Senate calendar this month, would prevent people who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from buying food and drinks with little to no nutritional value, like soda, potato chips or cookies. There's a matching proposal in the House, and Laredo Democrat Rep. Richard Raymond filed a similar measure to restrict the purchase of certain foods using SNAP funds — indicating some bipartisan support. Yes, but: Critics of the measure say people on SNAP benefits should be allowed to make their own decisions and that healthy food tends to cost more. The other side: The FDA maintains that color additives — except for Red No. 3 — are safe to eat.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Make Texas Healthy Again' passes in the Senate
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — 'Make America Healthy Again' just got a Texas twist. On Wednesday, the Senate passed two bills with the aim to 'Make Texas Healthy Again,' improving health-focused initiatives within the Lone Star State. The first of these bills, Senate Bill 25 — filed by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R – Brenham — requires daily physical activity in public schools, a nutrition curriculum and food labels to warn Texas consumers which ingredients are banned in other countries. The bill passed unanimously 31-0. 'Make Texas Healthy Again' push begins in Senate 'Sixty percent of Americans have chronic diseases, and we're spending $4.3 million a year—that is five times our military budget,' Kolkhorst told senators. 'These are some of the statistics that should make us sit up in our chairs, stand up and say, 'What is wrong?'' SB 25 also establishes the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to create nutritional guidelines for Texans and examine links between food additives and chronic health. The bill's bipartisan support was apparent as senators on both sides shared personal testimony. 'I can tell you that in San Antonio, you mentioned diabetes in your bill layout, we have some of the highest numbers of diabetes, hypertension, and because of that, we also have some of the highest numbers of per capita chronic renal failure,' said Sen. José Menéndez, D – San Antonio. He added, 'It is the most ridiculous thing that is preventable, that's the worst part about it.' 'When I grew up, it was eggs were bad for you and steak was bad for you, right? So we're told. So we were taught all these things that were wrong,' said Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston. He added, 'So I think that's one of the most critical components of your bill, is that nutrition education.' In a statement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also praised the bill's passing, naming SB 25 as one of his legislative priorities earlier in the session. 'I named SB 25 as a priority of mine because making Texas healthy again is the perfect way to ensure Texans can capitalize on our bright future,' said Patrick in a statement. 'The commonsense reforms included in SB 25 highlight how important nutrition and exercise are in maintaining overall health.' School choice, border, affordability among priorities in upcoming legislative session SB 314, filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R – Mineola, also passed in relation to 'Make Texas Healthy Again.' The bill bans seven chemicals in food commonly found in reduced-price or free lunch programs at public schools. It passed 30-1 in the Senate. Both bills will now move to their respective House committees for further voting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
