Lawmakers, CSPI, Advocates Celebrate Sweeping Food Reform Package, Urge Gov Hochul to Sign Into Law

ALBANY, NY (07/08/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, the Center for the Science in the Public Interest and leading health advocates held a virtual webinar with bill sponsors Senators Rivera, Kavanagh, and Hinchey, and Assemblymember Kelles celebrating the passage of a major food reform package that will strengthen consumer transparency and clean up New York's food supply, amid longstanding food safety gaps and a weakened FDA.

Watch a recording of the event here.

Key legislation awaiting Governor Hochul's signature includes:

• Good Food NY (S7638B/A8091B Hinchey/Peoples-Stokes) which will allow municipalities to engage in values-based food procurement and prioritize healthy, locally sourced and produced food over the lowest bid
• Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239F/A1556G Kavanagh/Kelles) which will ban harmful additives Red No. 3, propylparaben, and potassium bromate, plus mandate transparency requirements for chemicals used in foods
• Baby Food and Infant Formula Safety and Transparency Act (S8701A/A9026A Hinchey/Torres) which will mandate the testing of baby food and infant formula for toxic heavy metals and the disclosure of such test results
• Sodium Warning Bill (S428/A5207 Rivera/Reyes) which will require clear sodium warning icons on chain restaurant menus to ensure transparency
• Food Date Labeling Reform Act (S7618B/A7904B Hinchey/Reyes) which will establish uniform food date labels that clearly distinguish food safety from food quality, reducing consumer confusion, cutting food waste, and encouraging the donation of safe, edible food.

Food giants routinely flout the law to introduce harmful chemicals into the nation's food supply without adequate FDA oversight, a reality that HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. and former FDA Commissioner Dr. Kessler have both affirmed. Consumer advocates have repeatedly found concerning levels of lead, arsenic, and mercury in baby food and infant formula, with no federal testing standard in sight. Meanwhile, more than 70% of American adults are alarmed about chemicals in the food supply and 5 in 6 want greater transparency from their leaders, yet "lowest responsible bidder" procurement laws still prevent municipalities from prioritizing healthier, locally sourced food for millions of New Yorkers. Facing outdated procurement laws and uneven access to healthy food, children and communities of color continue to battle aggressive fast food marketing and overexposure to high-sodium menu items linked to chronic diet-related diseases, including diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and heart disease.

"New Yorkers deserve to know what's in their food, and a food system that puts their health first. This package does exactly that. These five bills will get dangerous chemicals out of our foods, allow communities to start sourcing healthier food, clear up confusing food date labels, and give families the transparency they need to make safer eating choices - whether they're out shopping for baby food or out dining with loved ones. The Legislature has already taken the crucial important step by passing them, and now only one signature stands between New Yorkers and better food. We are calling on Governor Hochul to sign this landmark package into law and make New York a national model for food safety and transparency," said Dr. DeAnna Nara, Campaign Manager at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, "From the very first foods we give our children to the meals we share with our families, New Yorkers deserve to eat food that is safe, affordable, and part of a wider system that puts their health and well-being first. I'm proud to sponsor three bills in this package that will help families save thousands each year just by making food date labels clearer, get toxic metals out of baby food and make New York the first state to strengthen protections for infant formula, and establish a values-based food procurement model that creates new markets for our family farms by prioritizing New York-grown food in our schools, hospitals, and all public institutions. We hope the Governor recognizes the positive impact these measures will have on our economy and in building a safer, more resilient and more affordable local food system for New Yorkers."

"Currently, FDA policy allows companies to determine for themselves that certain chemicals are safe for use in food without making the scientific evidence behind those determinations public or even notifying the FDA. As a result, chemicals can enter, and remain in, the food supply for years or even decades before concerns are identified through independent research. That lack of transparency has undermined public confidence in our food system. The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act restores transparency by requiring companies to publicly disclose the scientific evidence supporting their safety conclusions. The legislation also removes a limited number of chemicals from New York's food supply that decades of independent scientific research have linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and organ damage. This is a measured, evidence-based approach that reflects growing bipartisan recognition that people have a right to know what is in their food and why manufacturers believe those ingredients are safe. I look forward to working with the Governor to see this bill signed into law," said Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles, sponsor of the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act.

"I am incredibly proud that my Sodium Warning bill has finally passed both houses. When dining out, families are too often exposed to excessive sodium without even knowing it. New Yorkers deserve clear information about the food they are purchasing and consuming, so they can make healthy choices for themselves. I urge Governor Hochul to sign the Sodium Warning Bill into law as soon as possible," said Senator Gustavo Rivera, sponsor of the Sodium Warning Bill.

BACKGROUND

Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239E/A1556G): Restricts the use of three harmful additives linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive toxicity in foods sold statewide, and ends the secrecy of a federal loophole that allows companies to self-designate their ingredients as "generally recognized as safe" or GRAS by requiring companies to disclose evidence confirming the safety of food chemicals that bypass the FDA's safety review.

Good Food NY (S7638B/A8091B): Allows municipalities to engage in values-based food procurement and prioritize healthy, locally sourced and produced food over the lowest bid.

Baby Food and Infant Formula Safety and Transparency Act (S8701A/A9026A): Mandates the testing of baby food and infant formula for toxic heavy metals and the disclosure of such test results.

Sodium Warning Bill (S428A/A5207A): Requires chain restaurants to display warning icons next to menu items containing more than the daily recommended sodium limit of 2,300 milligrams. By providing clear, accessible information to diners, the legislation aims to reduce sodium intake across the population, help address rates of chronic disease, and improve public health outcomes.

Food Date Labeling Reform Act (S7618B/A7904B): Establishes uniform food date labels that clearly distinguish food safety from food quality, reducing consumer confusion, cutting food waste, and encouraging the donation of safe, edible food.