Florida bill seeks to ban these 9 chemical additives in food | FOX 35 Orlando
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Florida bill seeks to ban these 9 chemical additives in food

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Updated  February 10, 2025 1:36pm EST
Florida
FOX 35 Orlando

Red dye No. 3 substitutes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned red dye — called Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines due to potential cancer risk. Local mother and health coach, Robin Jonas, shares some potential substitutes for the red dye.

The Brief

    • A new bill filed in Florida seeks to ban certain chemical additives in food products.
    • If approved, SB 560 would prohibit restaurants from manufacturing, selling, or distributing food containing certain chemical additives, including red dye 3 and brominated vegetable oil.
    • Sen. Jonathan Martin, who filed the bill Monday, said on X: "Some chemicals cause cancer. They have no place in our food. Period."

ORLANDO, Fla. - A new Florida bill is seeking to ban certain chemical additives in food products.

What chemical additives could SB 560 ban?

What we know:

Senate Bill 560 would stop food establishments from making, selling, or distributing food containing these nine chemical additives:

  • Brominated vegetable oil
  • Potassium bromate
  • Propylparaben
  • Red dye 3
  • Blue dye 1
  • Yellow dye 5
  • Benzidine
  • Butylated hydroxyanisole
  • Butylated hydroxytoluene

Dig deeper:

Among the list of additives is Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, which the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned from food and drugs over cancer risks.

The FDA also banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food after studies found it could be harmful to people.

What they're saying:

Florida Sen. Jonathan Martin filed the bill on Monday. In a statement posted to X pertaining to the matter, Martin wrote:

"Some chemicals cause cancer. They have no place in our food. Period."

What's next:

If passed by the legislature, the bill will go before Gov. Ron DeSantis, who can either sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without signing it.

If the bill becomes law, it will take effect on Jan. 1, 2028. 

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Senate, the FDA and a statement posted on social media by Sen. Jonathan Martin. 

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