What’s the deal with an organic farmer from upstate New York, a social worker from the South Bronx, a liberal nutritionist from Ithaca, and a Republican sausage-maker in Otsego County all getting along like a house on fire? Well, they’re all on board with a state bill that brings together blue-state regulations and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sounds like an interesting crew, right?
The bill in question aims to crack down on certain food dyes and make companies spill the beans on what additives they’re sneaking into our packaged foods. These folks believe that while Washington, especially the FDA, has dropped the ball on regulating what we eat, it’s time for New York to step up and take charge. And they’re pushing for this change right as Kennedy shakes things up at the Department of Health and Human Services, trying to clean house in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Assemblymember Anna Kelles, a nutritionist with a Ph.D. in nutritional epidemiology, thinks this cause is a no-brainer, bringing together allies from all walks of life. According to her, when people find out what’s really going on with the chemicals in their food, they’re pretty ticked off. And who can blame them? It’s not like anyone wants to be kept in the dark about what they’re putting in their bodies, right?
But wait, there’s more! The bill zeroes in on this thing called GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe,” a standard in the food industry. Apparently, back in 1958, the FDA thought it was a good idea to let some ingredients slide without testing them. Fast forward to today, and companies are using this loophole to get all kinds of stuff approved without much scrutiny. Not cool, right? Well, Jensen Jose from the Center for Science in the Public Interest thinks so too. He’s all about states taking charge, pointing to places like California and West Virginia that have already banned certain additives.
So, Kennedy’s HHS is making waves, and Kelles’ bill is gaining steam. But not everyone’s on board. Food industry bigwigs are pushing back, saying the current rules are A-OK. They’re not too keen on New York butting in, claiming it’ll just cause more headaches and drive up costs. John Hewitt from the Consumer Brands Association is singing the same tune, insisting that federal regulations are where it’s at.
Despite the naysayers, Kelles and her crew are forging ahead. Even a Republican sausage-maker like Sen. Peter Oberacker is throwing his weight behind the bill. With a background in food science, he sees the value in tightening up the rules. And hey, if a butcher’s son is on board, maybe there’s hope for bipartisanship after all.
The bill’s got folks like Corinne Hansch from Lovin’ Mama farm excited about the potential for a healthier food system. She’s all about getting nutrient-packed goodies into everyone’s hands. And Democratic Assemblymember Chantel Jackson is on the same page, fighting for better access to healthy food in her neck of the woods.
At the end of the day, it looks like this motley crew might just make some waves in the food industry. Who knew a farmer, a social worker, a nutritionist, and a sausage-maker could team up for a cause? Not really sure why this matters, but hey, stranger things have happened, right? So, here’s to New York leading the charge for better, safer food for all. Cheers to that!
