The proposed Illinois legislation, Senate Bill 2637, aims to ban five potentially harmful food additives, going beyond California’s first-in-the-nation ban on these substances. The additives targeted in the bill are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye No. 3, and, with an amendment, titanium dioxide.

Red dye No. 3, which is used to color candies and other foods, has been banned in cosmetics since 1990 due to evidence linking it to cancer in lab animals. It has also been associated with behavioral problems in some children.

Brominated vegetable oil, used as an emulsifier, has been linked to metabolic disorders, and potassium bromate, a dough conditioner, has been linked to cancer in lab animals.

Propylparaben, a preservative in some baked goods, has been implicated in potential hormonal and reproductive health issues.

Titanium dioxide, used to make white coloring, has raised concerns due to nanoparticles accumulating in the organs of lab animals that ingested it.

The legislation, supported by State Sen. Willie Preston and State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, has the backing of the Environmental Working Group and organ and tissue transplant advocates. The bill follows California’s lead, giving manufacturers, distributors, and retailers until 2027 to comply. The ban in Illinois would focus on retail sales and exempt manufacturers.

All five additives banned by the bill have already been prohibited by the European Union, and four of them were banned or restricted by several other countries. Critics argue that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deems these additives “generally recognized as safe,” but supporters emphasize the importance of protecting children from potentially harmful chemicals in food and beverages.

The legislation reflects a broader trend, with similar proposals emerging in New York, and expectations that other states may follow suit. Some manufacturers have already started reformulating products to remove these additives, and supporters believe that changes can be made without compromising taste, with safer additives potentially being cheaper.

Source: Capitol news Illinois