NYS LEG: Protect Children and Boost Food Safety with Urgent Nutrition Reform

ALBANY, NY (01/13/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, Governor Kathy Hochul issued her State of the State address, affirming her commitment to safeguarding public health standards amid federal attacks, and strengthening food security for New Yorkers through deeper SNAP investments.

In response CSPI Senior Policy Associate Dr. DeAnna Nara issued the following statement:

"The Center for Science in the Public Interest applauds Governor Hochul for her leadership in protecting New Yorkers' well-being and tackling food insecurity with much-needed investment, including an additional $65 million toward food assistance programs. This represents a significant milestone, but children and residents of all ages remain at-risk due to longstanding gaps in our federal and state food safety laws. On top of a loophole that lets corporations secretly self-certify poorly tested ingredients without FDA knowledge, fast-food and beverage companies continue to employ predatory digital marketing practices that disproportionately affect youth of color. Billion-dollar ad campaigns peddle products tied to cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other preventable health conditions already on the rise in our state. Governor Hochul can change this by prioritizing urgent legislation designed to shore up our food supply and protect consumers: the Predatory Marketing Prevention Act, Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, Sodium Warning Bill, and Sweet Truth Act. Taken in tandem, these bills would embed transparency for New Yorkers, defend households from corporate secrecy, and ensure families have the tools to make safer choices about the food they eat. We urge the Governor to extend her leadership and set a nation-wide precedent for equitable public health policy."

BACKGROUND:

The Predatory Marketing Prevention Act aka PMPA (S397): Strengthens existing consumer protections by explicitly defining and restricting misleading targeted marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children and adolescents. The legislation builds on New York's existing false advertising laws, ensuring that youth are not unfairly manipulated into consuming ultra-processed products that negatively impact long-term health.

The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239A): 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 restricts the use of three harmful additives–linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive toxicity–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 additives, the bill aims to improve health outcomes and protect New York consumers from health harms like cancer and developmental delays.

The Sweet Truth Act (S427): Empowers New Yorkers to make informed choices when dining out. The bill requires chain restaurants to display warning icons next to menu items that exceed the daily recommended added sugars limit, much like existing calorie counts and the City Council's 2023 Sweet Truth Act, and seeks to protect New Yorkers from a number of diet-driven conditions, including rising rates of diabetes.

The Sodium Warning Bill (S428): The bill requires chain restaurants to display warning icons on 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.

Prohibiting Synthetic Dyes in School Foods (S3214A): This bill bans seven synthetic dyes, linked to hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and other behavioral problems in some children, from school foods. New York City children already have this protection, and extending this safeguard statewide complements the Universal School Meals Program, helping ensure that all students receive safe, nutritious food that supports learning and development.

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