A Virginia Western This week, the law signed artificial dyes and food preservatives-a protection from consumers by Republicans in the face of the bustling industry opposition.
West Virginia Law is one of dozens of bills that have been submitted throughout the country, where legislators in the Republican state continue with one of the strongest forces that appear from the presidential campaign for the year 2024 – the movement “to make America healthy again” or what.
The result was an explosive growth in the proposed legislation to prohibit artificial dyes, preservatives and chemicals in food packages – chemicals carried out by consumers advocates, in some cases, for decades.
“There is an increasing interest from the two parties to ban this, as well as frustration with the two parties on how [Food and Drug Administration] Jensen Jose, organizational advisor to the non -profit group center of science in the public interest (CSPI) said.
“You see more and more states looking to ban these chemicals,” Jose said, adding that the tidal wave and the new legislation were “unprecedented.” The new Virginia State Law condemns debt CaliforniaThe defenders, who banned some dyes themselves from school meals in 2024. The Biden administration followed the administration’s retreat days by banning it. Red dye No. 3.
However, the new law also clarifies a weak alliance between the advocates of consumer based on science, who historically received sympathy for the left, and the state. RepublicansAnd his party has a long record of denying science.
The personality of this movement is the new Minister of Health of Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Junior, who was for nearly a decade the country’s leading vaccine – the beliefs he continued in the Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Services (HHS). The same groups that were pulled against artificial dyes appeared against Kennedy’s nomination – one calling Kennedy ARevenge is a joke nomination“.
During his short work, Kennedy was already Treated The value of vaccines against measles while promoting Possible harmful alternative treatmentsSuggest a Cut 10,000 people To the administration employees and it seems ready for Under the technology of entertaining technologyIt is considered considered Silver lining From the Covid-19 epidemic.
The aggressive discounts of the Trump administration led a prominent government organizer, the food safety and drug safety commander, Jim Jones, to resign yet.random“Demolition of workers made his work impossible.
“The elephant in the room is RFK,” Jose said, referring to Kennedy. “We are concerned that management and Congress will not follow the flag.”
The Western Virginia state law, red dye No. 3, red dye No. 40, yellow dye No. 5, yellow dye No. 6, blue dye No. 1, blue dye No. 2, green dye No. 3 and Hydroxyinezol preservatives and Brobil Paraben are prohibited from school foods that start in August, and from all foods sold in the state in 2028.
“Western Virginia is at the bottom of many public health standards, which is why there is no better place to lead an important leadership that makes America healthy again,” Patrick Morris said, and he signs the bill on Monday, and thanked Trump and Kennedy.
The law came in the face of the fierce opposition, as pressure groups issued horrific predictions about the future of food in Western Virginia.
“The western Virginia families will face the high food prices and the scarcity of products available in stores because this law actually prohibits 60 % of the grocery store,” said Kevin Kane, Executive Director of the American Drinks Association, a group of pressure on non -alcoholic food and prefably the population.
Kane said: “Western Virginia will be left with less choices because of what politicians have decided in Charleston without any audio science behind,” Kane said. “Many good jobs will be lost. Companies will close.”
In contrast, consumer advocates, and now many legislators, refer to failure at the federal level where a new ban on the basis of the state is needed. The heart of his complaint is “generally recognized as safe” or Gras, and he is a preacher of the list, called “a loophole.”
Gras was designed by Congress in 1958 To allow food manufacturers to use widely known ingredients without a scientific review – Jose uses examples of beet juice, vinegar and salt. But over time, the industry began to ratify more and more ingredients through this path. In part of it, because food and drug management reviews may be incredibly slow.
Consumers defenders argue that Congress has been shortened on the agency’s dietary. On the contrary, medicines and medical devices in the Food and Drug Administration are funded by user fees from companies that apply for approval – not just Congress. The ingredient review has been weakened 1997 guidance This did not require food and drug management companies notifying that it had identified a safe component.
Kennedy He announced in March The administration will review whether it will ask food companies to notify GRAS decisions.
“The vulnerability has generally swallowed up,” said “I have swallowed the vulnerability” generally recognized as safe as “the law.” “Ninety -nine percent of the new chemicals are reviewed by chemical companies, and what is always safe?” “1 % may be carefully reviewed by the FDA.”
GRAS critics refer to the example of Flour Tara- a vegetable protein that brought hundreds of people in 2022 when it was included in the meal tool boxes that are delivered by Daily harvest. Some customers reported liver, bitterness and even lawsuits.
The Food and Drug Administration responded only after two years, In 2024When he said that the component was not generally recognized as safe and therefore an “unacceptable” added. However, without people suffering from severe diseases, experts say, ingredients can continue in the diet for years, causing chronic diseases such as cancer.
The extent of the new alliance between consumer advocates and Republican legislators still should still be seen. “One of the disadvantages that we have when you get more wide support is that you have a more diverse group of people,” Faber said.
One of these prominent examples was presented by the representative of Western Virginia, Adam Burkhammer, the Republican legislator who presented the ban on food dye, and said he would follow up on Maha’s legislation in the future.
“We need to take a look at everything,” said Burkhammer, before we blew a dog whistle Republicans’ base to combat Al -Qazam“I think we should continue to look at our manufactured foods, drinking water quality, and even our drugs and vaccines.”
“We should not leave any stone without really working on” making America healthy again, “he said.
