When it comes to food chemicals, it’s time for the Trump team to step up.
The Biden administration banned two food chemicals – brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, and Red Dye No. 3. BVO is linked to harm to the nervous system, and Red 3 is linked to cancer.
The second Trump administration has not yet banned any food chemicals.
So far, the Trump administration has announced the Food and Drug Administration’s intent to narrow the loophole that allows chemical companies to decide whether new food chemicals are safe. And last week the agency released plans to review the safety of some of the food chemicals we’re already eating.
The Trump administration also announced an “understanding” with food companies to phase out food colors.
None of these announcements – all press statements – included details or actions required of food companies. The most recent announcement, about “post-market reviews” of food chemicals, mostly reiterates work that began during the Biden administration.
Response to public concerns
Unlike the Biden administration, the second Trump administration has not yet responded to any pending petitions by EWG and other public health organizations, including petitions to ban chemicals linked to cancer.
It’s still early, but the first Trump administration did more to address food chemicals than the second Trump administration. Facing legal pressure, it granted a petition filed by EWG and other public health organizations to ban seven artificial flavors linked to cancer.
Not enough progress
Both the Biden administration and the first Trump administration did far too little to address food chemicals.
The Biden administration rejected efforts to ban phthalates from food packaging, and both it and Trump 1.0 rejected efforts to ban perchlorate, a neurotoxic ingredient in rocket fuel, from food packaging.
Neither administration banned butylated hydroxanisole, or BHA, which has been linked to cancer since 1978 and subject to a petition seeking a ban on use in food for more than 30 years.
States out front
By comparison, state legislatures have done much more than either administration to address the harms of food chemicals.
California and West Virginia have so far banned 12 toxic chemicals from food, including propylparaben, potassium bromate, BHA, and seven synthetic food colors. California also banned BVO and Red 3 before the FDA took action.
Other states – Arizona, Utah and Virginia – have banned artificial coloring from school foods.
In total, more than 20 states have introduced bills to ban food chemicals.
It’s good news that Trump 2.0 is making food chemicals a priority. And when taking action, many state legislators have cited the administration’s concern about the harms of food dyes.
But so far the second Trump administration has not delivered on promises of progress. By slashing FDA staff, the new administration has also made it harder to ban toxic food chemicals and fulfill other food safety responsibilities.