In 1990, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) banned the use of red dye 3 in cosmetic products, like lipsticks and ointments.  Yet 34 years later, this coloring product still remains an approved additive for use in the foods that we consume every day.  This is one of many additives in our foods that studies have consistently shown are extremely dangerous to our health and still available for manufacturer use.  How can that be?

The FDA is painfully slow at reviewing and taking action on food additives that are harmful to us and our families.  For this reason, I intend to introduce legislation banning the use of certain additives in food products for sale in the Commonwealth. 

Currently, the FDA labels the food additives below as “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)”.  Our food should not be considered “generally safe” for consumption.  We wouldn’t get on an airplane or send our children to a daycare that advertises itself as “generally safe”.  To ensure that the food sold in our commonwealth goes beyond a “generally safe” standard, this package of bills will include banning the following additives:

1. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
   1. BVO acts as a flavor stabilizer in beverages, mostly in citrus drinks.  Studies have shown that BVO causes thyroid toxicity and increased fats around the heart and liver.
2. Potassium bromate
   1. This “flour improver” is a known human carcinogen, causing increased risk of kidney and thyroid tumors.
3. Propylparaben
   1. Propylparaben is a preservative meant to keep mold and bacteria from growing, mainly used in baked goods.  It also may act as a hormone disrupter in humans.
4. Red dye 3
   1. This food coloring is used in thousands of foods but doesn’t need to be.  Manufacturers could use more natural food coloring dyes like beets or red cabbage.  Studies have shown that rats develop thyroid tumors after consuming food containing red dye 3.
5. Red dye 40
   1. Red dye 40 is a petroleum-based dye widely used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and has links to causing allergies, migraines, and mental disorders.  Even more, Red Dye #40 contains benzene, which is a known cancer-causing substance.
6. Azodicarbonamide (ACA)
   1. This chemical compound is used as a blowing agent in plastics but is still available for use as a bleaching agent in flour.  It has been outlawed for use in foods in Europe since 2005.  Further still, the European Food Safety Authority has banned its use in plastic food containers.  ACA contains semicarbazide, which has been shown to increase the incident of tumors when fed to female animals.
7. Transglutaminase
   1. Also known as “meat glue”, this product binds meats together, posing an extremely high risk of cross contamination.  It has further been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and an increased risk of Celiac disease.

Most consumers are not aware of these chemicals in our foods and certainly not aware of the dangers that they pose.  Many states across the country are also taking steps to ban these products in food, and rightfully so. 

Please consider joining me in this important legislation, which is certain to make the foods we consume safer.