New laws in Texas might significantly influence how food is marketed and even produced elsewhere in the nation.
Governor Greg Abbott recently approved numerous bills, including one that mandates food manufacturers to indicate any of the 44 specific food additives used in their products. These additives, highlighted through a label that must be “prominent and reasonably visible,” range from artificial dyes to certain modified oils, and some that are banned in other countries.
The label will read: “Warning: This product contains ingredients that are not recommended for human consumption by appropriate authorities in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the UK,” in line with what’s outlined in SB 25.
This bill had already cleared the Texas Legislature as a part of the “Re-Get Texas Healthy” initiative. Jennifer L. Falbe, an associate professor of nutrition at UC Davis, suggests that this legislation could resonate beyond Texas if manufacturers decide to adapt their labeling or products for the broader market.
Falbe, who co-authored a recent study on labeling effectiveness, noted, “It’s heartening to see bipartisan backing for reform in the food industry. Policies from significant states like Texas might influence practices in other regions.”
Scott Faber from the Environmental Working Group mentioned to the Washington Post that there’s “no doubt” these regulations will impact food companies across the U.S. He stated, “If states like Texas need warnings, it will probably affect the overall market.”
However, it may take quite a while to discern how exactly food companies will alter their labeling or manufacturing practices in Texas and beyond. The law specifies that these warning labels will only apply to “food labels developed or copyrighted after January 1, 2027.”
There’s also some ambiguity about the law’s details. A review highlighted that almost a dozen of the 44 additives cited might actually be allowed in certain foreign regions, despite the Texas law implying otherwise. Some, like Red Dye No. 4, are already banned in the U.S.
Thomas Garrigan, a scientist at the Science Center for the Public Interest, raised concerns, saying, “I’m not sure how the list of chemicals was compiled. The warning needs to be legally accurate.”
Falbe added that these warnings rarely push food manufacturers to cut back on sodium and sugar. “Even if warning labels encourage healthier choices, they might lead companies to swap one set of additives for another without truly enhancing food quality,” she stated. “For instance, soda that replaces certain colorings is still soda; its health risks remain.”
Falbe’s recent study shows that clearer packaging labels can help consumers better understand the nutritional content of foods. This could eventually motivate the federal government to impose similar requirements on food manufacturers.
“Frontline warning labels highlighting high sugar, sodium, and saturated fat content can enhance consumer awareness, guiding them to make healthier choices and driving the food industry to produce better products,” Falbe explained.
