Photo by: Legislative photography of W.VA.
The president of the Health and Human Resources Committee of the Chamber Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, said that the Bill of Chamber 2354 would help put the Virginia-Western on the path of a healthier food, although the opponents think that this will make food more expensive.
Charleston – After sitting in the limbo for nine days, the Chamber of Delegates of Virginia -Western took the changes to the State Senate to a bill prohibiting certain dietary coloring and additives, bringing other amendments but losing supporters who voted for the bill the first time.
The room concluded Thursday morning with the amendments of the Senate to bill 2354, prohibiting certain food products in Virginia-Western, during a vote of 79-17 with four absent or not. The bill now returns to the Senate to agree with the amendment of the House to the bill.
The bill first adopted the House on February 28 during a vote of 93-5 with two absent or not. But Thursday’s vote saw 11 Republicans from the House transfer their votes from Yay to Nay, with a GOP delegate who was absent for the vote of February 28, also voting no.
HB 2354 would modify the state code concerning falsified foods and drugs prohibiting specific food additives and dietary colors found in processed food products sold in the state, such as red dye n ° 3 and yellow color n ° 5, deeming them dangerous. The other additives that would be prohibited include butylée hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, red color n ° 40, yellow color n ° 6, blue color n ° 1, blue color n ° 2 and green dye n ° 3.
California has already been prohibited against certain politico colors and reports that more than a dozen states are considering similar prohibitions. But the president of the House Health and Human Resources Committee, Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, said HB 2354 would be one of the largest prohibitions.
“We are fortunate to be the first to do so,” said Worrell. “Direct the nation here … and say that (food manufacturers) is enough. We have finished poisoning our children. We will make you understand to offer these products as you do everywhere else in the right direction. »»
The Senate changed the bil
A modification of the chamber to the invoice made Thursday would protect those of the State against the criminal provisions of the bill as long as they sell less than $ 5,000 in sales of global food per month for products containing food additives and prohibited dyes.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States prohibited red dye n ° 3 in January, commanding its withdrawal of food products by January 15, 2027 and drugs ingested by January 18, 2028. This comes after studies showing a link with cancer after tests on male mice, although it was not clear if there was a human link with an increase in cancer rates. An examination of the Environmental Protection Agency of California 2021 of dyes and food additives found links between certain dyes and behavioral problems in children.
But lobbyists for manufacturers of food and drinks argue that HB 2354 is a broader ban on dyes and food additives than even European countries in place. They also argue that replacing food products on the market now by products without coloring and additives would make food products more expensive and less available, although a representative for Americans for the choice of food and drinks has provided any evidence.
Several legislators have spoken against the bill, calling for the concerns raised by supporters of the ban on fear of fear and claiming that the bill was an anti-free market.
“None of the ingredients and articles prohibited here have been refused or prohibited by the Food and Drug Administration,” said DEL. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer. “We have heard a variety of references to have poison or a variety of things like that and that is not necessarily true. Food and Drug Administration does not consider them as poison. »»