Key Points:
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a law that requires warning labels on snacks and packaged food products containing ingredients not recommended for human consumption in other countries.
- The law covers over 40 ingredients, including food dyes and additives commonly used in food processing.
- If the FDA implements its own labeling requirements, the Texas law may be overturned.
Insight:
The Texas law puts pressure on food companies to remove artificial dyes and additives, aligning with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Major food companies are voluntarily committing to removing artificial colors from their products by the end of 2026 in response to this movement.
The food industry argues that the labeled ingredients are safe and that the warnings could lead to increased costs and consumer confusion.
For instance, natural ingredients like ficin and sodium hydroxide are included in the law despite being commonly used and considered safe globally.
Industry experts, like Christina Barsa from Enzyme Development Corporation, believe that the law could mislead consumers and provide inaccurate information.