Illinois Secretary of State hopes FDA cracks down on harmful chemicals in food

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers tried to pass a plan this year to ban retail stores from selling products containing chemicals linked to poor health outcomes. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could step up in a big way to crack down on the harmful additives.

Health experts have seen a rise in young children suffering from diabetes, autism, ADHD and cancer over the past decade. While doctors don't know the exact cause of the recent spike, leaders want to make food and drinks safer.

"Right now, with the relaxed oversight requirements allowing food manufacturers to avoid scrutiny coupled with an FDA approval process that can drag on for decades, it's no wonder the food lobby supports the status quo," said Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

The Democrat led the push to ban stores from selling products with additives like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 and titanium dioxide by January 1, 2027. That proposal passed out of the Senate in April, but it stalled in the House.

The FDA later announced a ban on brominated vegetable oil for food in July.

"These type of food regulations should be handled at the federal level by the Food & Drug Administration," said Donovan Griffith, government affairs director for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. "The FDA requires evidence that each food additive is safe at its intended level of use before it may be added to food."

FDA leaders will hold a public meeting Wednesday to share information about the development of an improved process for post-market assessment of chemicals in food. Organizers said it will include considerations for identifying and prioritizing chemicals currently in the market for safety review.

"Unfortunately, the materials provided by the FDA so far don't tell us much about what the FDA plans to do or the criteria the agency plans to use to assess these chemicals for safety," said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group. "Until there is a robust credible review program at the FDA that consumers can trust, states like Illinois must continue to act to protect us."

The prohibited food additives bill currently has 11 co-sponsors in the Illinois House. Representatives could address the plan when they return for veto session in November or lameduck session in early January.