WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of more than 150 state lawmakers throughout the country is today urging Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to preserve the ability of states to protect consumers from toxic food chemicals.
In a letter to the senator, the legislators emphasize states’ long history of public safety and health protections, including food safety laws. They emphasize the risks of any effort by Congress to preempt, or block, state action on regulating harmful food chemicals. This would undermine consumer protections and hinder state efforts to respond to emerging threats in the U.S. food supply, they write.
The signatories, 68 Republican and 89 Democratic lawmakers from 30 states, tell Marshall:
We support federal efforts to narrow or close loopholes that currently allow new food chemicals into commerce without independently verified safety reviews.
We also support federal action to regularly and systematically reevaluate the safety of food additives which are already in commerce.
However, we urge you to also preserve the power and autonomy of states to protect our consumers and preserve the longstanding collaborative partnership between the federal government and our states.
Last week, a coalition of 84 environmental and public health organizations sent a similar letter to each member of the House and Senate, calling on Congress to reject any legislation that would preempt states from adopting and implementing their own food safety laws.
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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.
