On World Heart Day, CSPI, Lawmakers, Parents, Advocates to Urge Gov to Sign Major Food Transparency Package

NEW YORK, NY (09/28/2026) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday aka World Heart Day, outside City Hall, the Center for the Science in the Public Interest will hold a rally with lawmakers, the American Heart Association, parents and families urging Governor Hochul to sign 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 lax FDA. Council Members Lynn Schulman and Althea Stevens will introduce resolutions on the two bills.

Key legislation awaiting Governor Hochul's signature includes:

• 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
• Sodium Warning Bill (S428A/A5207A Rivera/Reyes) which will require clear sodium warning icons on chain restaurant menus to ensure transparency

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. Meanwhile, more than 70% of American adults are alarmed about chemicals in the food supply, and 5 in 6 want government and businesses to do more on chemical safety and transparency. Facing 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 hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.

Watch the livestream here.