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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 29, 2024 11:14 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Devlin J. Robinson |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Food Safety Enhancement |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation to bring safer alternatives to toxic additives in foods produced and sold in Pennsylvania. Many of these chemicals are added to foods to extend shelf life or provide an attractive color, however, they serve no nutritional value, and pose a variety of risks to our health based on decades of scientific research. However, we continue to ingest these chemicals every day. Dangerous ingredients such as certain food dyes, potassium bromate, propyl paraben, and brominated vegetable oil are often found in everyday foods commonly eaten by children. Some of these substances have been linked to serious health problems including heart, liver, and nervous system damage, hyperactivity, reproductive issues, endocrine disruption, behavioral problems in adolescents, jeopardized brain development, and an increased risk of cancers. My legislation will amend Title 3 (Agriculture) relating to unsafe food additives by prohibiting the use of these toxic chemicals. Many other countries do this now, and several states are beginning to explore this idea in their legislatures. This bill will also include a multi-year phase in to give companies adequate time to make adjustments. Please join me in helping Pennsylvania consumers feel more confident in their food purchases by co-sponsoring this legislation. |