Addis Introduces Bill to Strengthen Transparency and Close Food Chemical Safety Loopholes

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), introduced Assembly Bill 2034 (AB 2034) to close federal loopholes that allow companies to label certain additives as "generally recognized safe" (GRAS) without clear oversight or public disclosure.

"Healthy foods are essential to a healthy life, and Californians deserve clear, honest information about what they're putting in their bodies," said Addis. "For far too long, companies have exploited vague labeling and federal loopholes to conceal dangerous chemicals in the foods that families trust. AB 2034 will close those loopholes and strengthen transparency. No one should have to guess what's in their food or worry that they're unknowingly exposing themselves or their children to harmful chemicals simply by sitting down to eat."

Sponsored by the Center for Science in Public Interest, AB 2034 would grant California health officials the authority to independently review potentially harmful food chemicals and would require companies to disclose ingredients often hidden behind vague terms such as "artificial flavors", "natural flavors", "spices", or "artificial colors". Those disclosures would be filed in a publicly accessible database managed by the California Department of Public Health.

"Consumers deserve to know what's being added to their foods and to have confidence that those chemicals are truly safe," said Thomas Galligan, Principal Scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "For too long, the FDA has let Californians down, and AB 2034 will rectify that."

AB 2034 now awaits referral to committee.

Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.

CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832