Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits certain food dyes and requires companies that sell packaged foods to disclose more information about the additives they put into their products in New York.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the sale and production of food and drinks that contain certain harmful additives like Red No. 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben (Sec. 199-a, subd. 5).

• Authorizes that stores can take three years to sell off existing products with these banned additives, but only if products were purchased before the law takes effect (Sec. 199-a, subd. 7).

• Requires companies to report food additives labeled “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) to the state with detailed evidence of safety (Sec 199-g).

• Authorizes GRAS safety reports to be published online on a public database and authorizes state officials to reject inadequate substance reports if deemed necessary (Sec. 199-g).

• Exempts small businesses with fewer than 100 employees from this amended section of the bill (Sec. 199-g).

• Requires safety evidence to be available to the public, and specifies that companies cannot rely on trade secrets, only public information, to justify a substance’s safety (Sec. 199-g).

Full Bill Text