— OPINION —
By the Environmental Working Group
A diverse coalition of 84 organizations has called on House and Senate lawmakers to oppose any legislative efforts that would block state laws protecting consumers from toxic chemicals in food.
The coalition includes the Environmental Working Group and many other public health and environmental groups. The letter they sent says state laws are often the first line of defense for consumers facing emerging chemical-safety threats in the food supply, especially since the Food and Drug Administration has failed to act. It says:
[S]tates have led efforts to address the risks posed by food and food contact chemicals – by enacting laws in five states and considering laws in more than 20 states.
The ingredients addressed by these state laws and bills have already been addressed by many of our trading partners in other nations.
We understand that Congress may consider food safety legislation. As you do so, we urge you to reject efforts to limit the power of states to protect consumers.
While we remain hopeful that FDA will fulfill their food safety responsibilities, we urge you to reject efforts to undermine the important supplementary role played by states.
About the author: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
Here is the letter
Dear Senator:
Our organizations strongly oppose efforts to limit the power of states to help ensure the safety of
food and food contact chemicals.
For many decades, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has failed to address the safety
of food and food contact chemicals. Most food chemicals enter commerce without a safety
review by the FDA, and the FDA does not routinely reconsider the safety of food chemicals
once they have entered commerce. As a result, many food and food contact chemicals allowed
in foods offered for sale in the United States are not allowed in foods offered for sale in other
nations.
In response, states have led efforts to address the risks posed by food and food contact
chemicals by enacting laws in five states and considering laws in more than 20 states. The
ingredients addressed by these state laws and bills have already been addressed by many of
our trading partners in other nations.
We understand that Congress may consider food safety legislation. As you do so, we urge you
to reject efforts to limit the power of states to protect consumers. While we remain hopeful that
FDA will fulfill their food safety responsibilities, we urge you to reject efforts to undermine the
important supplementary role played by states.
We urge you to oppose efforts to limit the power of states to ensure the safety of food and food
contact chemicals.
Sincerely,
National Organizations:
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Americans for Family Farmers
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
Center for Environmental Health
Center for Food Safety
Clean Label Project
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Reports
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Earthjustice Action
Eat Real
EDF Action
End Chronic Disease
Environment America
Environmental Working Group
FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical And Toxics Safety
Family Farm Defenders
Farm Sanctuary
Food & Water Watch
Food Animal Concerns Trust
FoodFight USA
Four Paws USA
Friends of the Earth
Health Care Without Harm
Healthy Babies Bright Futures
Healthy Food America
Mamavation
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Consumers League
National League for Nursing
Natural Resources Defense Council
Resource Renewal Institute
sacredamerica.org
Safer States
Sierra Club
Society of Latinx Nurses
The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
The Ocean Project
The Weston A. Price Foundation
Toxic-Free Future
U.S. PIRG
Unleaded Kids
Wellness in the Schools
Women, Food, and Agriculture Network
Women’s Voices for the Earth
Clean Water Action
Defend Them All
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Patagonia Provisions
Stand for Health Freedom
State and Regional Organizations:
A Voice for Choice Advocacy
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice
California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG)
Clean+Healthy
Clean Water Action Minnesota
Coalition for Plastic Reduction
Conservation Law Foundation
Defend Our Health
Earth Ethics, Inc.
Ecology Center
Educate. Advocate.
El Granada Advocates
Environment Georgia
Environment Minnesota
Farmworker Association of Florida
GMOScience
Interfaith Public Health Network
Los Jardines Institute
Maryland Pesticide Education Network
Michiganders for a Just Farming System
Moms for Liberty Florida Legislative Committee
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
Norwalk River Watershed Association
Oregon Environmental Council
PoisonFreeMalibu
Récolte Energy
Utah Rivers Council
Vermont Conservation Voters
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Voters For Animal Rights
West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs
WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition and Our Future WV
