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Illinois Official Calls for Nationwide Overhaul of Food Additive Regulations After FDA Ban

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In the wake of the FDA’s recent ban on Red Dye No. 3, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias amplifies his demand for stricter food additive regulations nationwide. Following his advocacy for the Illinois Food Safety Act, Giannoulias emphasizes the urgent need to eliminate hazardous chemicals from American food products. He criticizes the current GRAS (generally recognized as safe) policy that permits manufacturers to determine the safety of additives, arguing this policy endangers public health and undermines FDA authority. This stance comes as studies continue to link these substances to severe health issues, from organ damage to increased cancer risk, highlighting a critical need for reform to protect consumers and ensure food safety.

“Allowing the company that produces the food to decide if a chemical is safe – without having to inform the FDA – makes no sense and results in a dangerous game for American families to play,” Giannoulias said. “While the recent bans on Red Dye No. 3 and brominated vegetable oil are a step in the right direction, these actions are long overdue and a drop in the bucket considering all the additives linked to negative health outcomes that remain on shelves today. In the absence of decisive action on the part of federal authorities, Illinois must step in to keep dangerous additives out of the marketplace.”

Last year, Giannoulias pushed for the Illinois Food Safety Act to ensure a healthier food marketplace for Illinois families. The bill called for prohibiting the use of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide; all of which have been linked to serious health problems, including hyperactivity, nervous system damage, reproductive issues, hormonal damage, and increased risk of cancer.

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