WE MOVE MOUNTAINS!

Together

WE SUPPORT THE NEW YORK BILLS TO BAN

7 HARMFUL FOOD ADDITIVES

& FIX THE BROKEN GRAS SYSTEM

WHO WE ARE PETITIONING TO

New York Governor Kathy Hochul; New York City Mayor Eric Adams; New York Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelley; New York Senator Brian Kavanagh; New York Senator Liz Krueger; New York Senator Luis R. Sepulveda; New York Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

We, the undersigned residents of New York State, urge our legislators to support two critical pieces of food safety legislation: A6424A/S6055B and S8615/A9295.

These bills, sponsored by Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles and Senator Brian Kavanagh, will protect New Yorkers from harmful food additives and promote greater transparency in food safety. For too long, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has failed to ensure our safety. The FDA is responsible for vetting the safety of food additives, both before and after they hit store shelves. Yet, the agency often fails to act, even when clear health risks are identified.

Take Red 3, a food dye. In 1990, the FDA itself declared Red 3 a potential carcinogen after animal studies. Despite this, Red 3 is still allowed in our food – over three decades later! Our calls for the FDA to ban it have gone unanswered.

Frustrated by federal inaction, we, the people, are turning to our state representatives for help. California took a stand last year, banning the sale of food containing Red 3, along with other harmful additives, by 2027.

New Yorkers deserve the same protection! Bill A6424A/S6055B proposes to ban the sale of seven dangerous food additives by 2027, including the four banned in California. These additives are:

Red 3
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Potassium Bromate
Propylparaben
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

All seven pose serious health risks. Four are suspected carcinogens, according to the FDA or other trusted agencies like the National Toxicology Program and the World Health Organization. The remaining three are linked to DNA damage, heart and thyroid problems, and reproductive harm.

Many of these additives are already banned or restricted in the European Union and California. These dangers are especially concerning for vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women.

The FDA's failures go beyond neglecting existing risks. The agency also allows new, potentially harmful chemicals into our food with little oversight. This happens through a loophole called "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS). Under GRAS, food companies can self-declare additives as safe without any FDA review. This system is rife with conflicts of interest, as companies often pay for the "expert" opinions used to justify GRAS status.

WE Move Mountains!

Bill A9295/S8615 aims to fix this broken system. It requires companies to notify New York State of their GRAS determinations, especially those not reviewed by the FDA. This crucial safety information (excluding trade secrets) would then be made public. This bill removes the secrecy from GRAS, allowing public scrutiny of food additives – a vital step towards safer food.

We, the residents of New York, urge you to stand with us. Public health should not be sacrificed for corporate profits. We thank Assemblymember Kelles and Senator Kavanagh for championing these important bills.

Let's make New York a leader in food safety!

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