This bill amends the New Jersey food safety regulations by adding seven specific substances to the list of those that can render commercial food adulterated. The newly included substances are azodicarbonamide, brominated vegetable oil, butylated hydroxyanisole, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide. The bill emphasizes that the presence of any of these substances in food will classify it as adulterated, thereby making it illegal for any entity in New Jersey to distribute, sell, manufacture, or possess such food with the intent to sell or distribute.

The bill is part of the State Sanitary Code, which is enforced by the Department of Health, and violations can result in penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 for each offense. The inclusion of these substances is based on their potential health risks, with butylated hydroxyanisole being identified as a possible human carcinogen and the others being banned in processed foods within the European Union due to concerns about public health, especially for children. The act will take effect 13 months after its enactment, allowing the Commissioner of Health to prepare for its implementation.