Why New York Must Urgently Pass the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act: A Call to Action

New Yorkers deserve to know what’s in their food. Recently, a chance to improve food safety laws slipped through our fingers.

New York was poised to join other states in addressing food safety with the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act. This bill aimed to introduce transparency regulations for chemicals in food and ban three harmful additives. Yet, food industry giants pushed back, claiming it would hurt small businesses.

In reality, the legislation asks large manufacturers to be transparent. It won’t cost taxpayers anything. As a Bronx bodega owner and president of the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), I fully support this bill. Our families deserve safe food, and we need to ensure big companies aren’t selling potentially unsafe products.

Our federal food safety laws are outdated. Many companies exploit loopholes to avoid U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks. They label certain chemicals as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) without proper reviews. Historically, GRAS was meant for everyday ingredients. Now it allows large firms to self-certify their products, hiding risks from consumers.

Some known additives, like Red No. 3 and potassium bromate, are already banned in other countries due to links to serious health issues, including cancer. Yet, these chemicals still appear in many American foods, especially those targeted at children, who are more vulnerable to health problems.

The proposed bill would directly limit harmful chemicals while creating an online disclosure system for manufacturers. Once firms provide evidence of safety, the State Department of Agriculture and Markets would inform health officials and the public. This bill would not affect small businesses or established safe ingredients.

Sadly, opposition from the food industry helped kill the bill. Their argument was misleading, suggesting that the rules would burden all food businesses, despite the exemptions for small players. This campaign of misinformation contradicts their claims of safety.

As someone who opened a bodega at 19, I understand how many New Yorkers struggle to access healthy options. The Bronx faces high rates of food insecurity and diet-related diseases. In our communities, bodegas sometimes outnumber supermarkets by 37 to 1. It’s vital that we increase access to healthy food in these areas.

Despite the industry’s claims, families shouldn’t have to worry about hidden toxins in their food. In a borough known for poor health outcomes, it doesn’t make sense for large companies to resist transparency.

New Yorkers need to know what they’re consuming. Next year, Albany must ensure that the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act is passed. Our health should come first.

Francisco Marte is the president of the New York Bodegas Association and founder of the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG).

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