BREAKING: New York Passes Nation-Leading Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, Bill Moves to Gov's Desk

ALBANY, NY (04/21/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, the New York State Assembly passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239E/A1556G), nation-leading legislation that would ban three harmful food additives linked to cancer and hormone disruption - Red No. 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben - and mandate new transparency requirements for chemicals used in food products sold statewide. The New York State Senate passed the bill unanimously last month.

Sponsored by Senator Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles, the legislation takes direct aim at lax federal food safety regulation, requiring manufacturers to disclose safety data for chemicals that have bypassed the FDA's formal safety review, and closing a federal loophole that allows companies to self-certify their ingredients as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) without adequate oversight.

"The Center for Science in the Public Interest commends the New York State Legislature for guarding public health and enshrining families' right to transparency," said Jensen Jose, CSPI Regulatory Counsel. "As federal regulators continue to fall short, Albany lawmakers are setting an example our country can and should follow. After decades of corporate self-interest overriding public safety, this bill represents a monumental step toward a food environment New Yorkers can trust. We urge the Governor to sign the bill into law immediately."

BACKGROUND

The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239E/A1556G): Ends the secrecy of a federal loophole that allows companies to self-designate their ingredients as "generally recognized as safe" or GRAS without adequate FDA oversight. The bill prohibits the use of three harmful additives in foods sold statewide and requires companies to disclose evidence confirming the safety of food chemicals that bypass the FDA's safety review. By mandating transparency requirements for chemical use in foods and eliminating unsafe additives, the bill aims to improve health outcomes and protect New York consumers from health harms like cancer and developmental delays.

Why Food Safety Regulation Is Urgent:

• Dangers in the Nation's Food Supply: Americans are regularly exposed to food chemicals that have been banned throughout the European Union, Canada, China, and other countries due to known health risks. Additives like Red No. 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other serious conditions – yet they remain legal and widely used in most U.S. states.
• Federal Inaction: According to a 2024 American Journal of Public Health analysis, the FDA rarely re-evaluates or revokes GRAS status, even as new research raises concerns about the safety of long-approved chemicals. Simultaneously, the FDA's food safety program has been severely weakened by ongoing layoffs and structural reforms, limiting its ability to inspect, regulate, or enforce food safety standards.
• Chronic Disease Risk: With rates of cancer, developmental disorders, and hormone-related illnesses on the rise, public health experts have warned that continued exposure to toxic food additives could further exacerbate health inequities and drive long-term costs to the healthcare system. The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act offers New York an opportunity to lead in protecting its residents - especially children - from preventable harm.

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