Texas mandates warning labels for foods with additives banned abroad
By isabelle // 2025-06-26
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  • Texas mandates warning labels on foods with additives banned abroad, starting in 2027, to inform consumers of potential health risks.
  • The MAHA Act, backed by State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, aims to align U.S. food safety standards with stricter international regulations.
  • Targeted additives include Red 40, titanium dioxide, and potassium bromate, which have been linked to hyperactivity, DNA damage, and cancer risks.
  • Food industry groups oppose the law, claiming it will confuse consumers and raise costs, while advocates hail it as a transparency win.
  • The law also expands school P.E. and nutrition training, with potential nationwide impact as companies may reformulate products to avoid Texas warning labels.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law a groundbreaking bill requiring warning labels on foods containing 44 controversial additives already banned or restricted in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom. Starting in 2027, products with ingredients like potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, and artificial dyes must display clear warnings stating they contain substances "not recommended for human consumption" by foreign regulatory authorities. The Texas Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Act, modeled after federal efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marks a major victory for food transparency advocates, but critics warn of regulatory loopholes and industry pushback.

A win for informed consumers

The new law, spearheaded by Republican State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, aims to close the gap between U.S. food safety standards and stricter international regulations. "Consumers are informed and can make better choices for their families," Kolkhorst declared on social media platform X. The warning labels must appear in a "prominent and reasonably visible" location on packaging, ensuring shoppers can easily identify products containing questionable additives. Among the targeted substances are synthetic dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5, linked to hyperactivity in children, and potassium bromate, a bread additive classified as a potential carcinogen. Titanium dioxide, a whitening agent found in candies and baked goods, was banned in the EU in 2022 over DNA damage concerns. "This represents a big win for Texas consumers and consumers overall," said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports. "It’s a reflection of states not wanting to wait for the federal government to act." Not surprisingly, Big Food is fighting back. The Consumer Brands Association, representing giants like General Mills and PepsiCo, urged Abbott to veto the bill, calling the warnings "inaccurate" and claiming they would "drive consumer confusion and higher costs." John Hewitt, the group’s senior vice president of state affairs, argued the law creates "legal risks for brands." Another concern is loopholes that could be used to exempt certain ingredients. For example, azodicarbonamide (ADA), a flour-bleaching agent, can still be used under specific federal conditions, which could potentially allow manufacturers to bypass the labeling requirements. "The legislation contains regulatory loopholes that could prevent certain ingredients from being labeled at all," said Melanie Benesh of the Environmental Working Group.

A broader push for health reform

Beyond food labeling, the Texas MAHA Act mandates expanded physical education in schools and requires medical professionals to complete nutrition training. A newly formed Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, free from industry influence, will oversee curriculum development for health education. The law’s impact could ripple nationwide. With Texas being the second-largest consumer market in the U.S., food companies may reformulate products rather than face backlash from warning labels, similar to what happened after California’s Proposition 65. However, experts caution that swapping banned chemicals for untested alternatives isn’t always safer. It may be imperfect, but Texas’ warning label law is a crucial step in challenging the FDA’s lax approach to food additives. By aligning with global safety standards, the state is forcing Big Food to either clean up its products or admit their risks openly. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com Fox7Austin.com TheHill.com
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