House Set To Nullify State Consumer Safety Programs

[Guest guest]

Anyone know where this bill stands? -Rogene

---------------------------------

http://www.ewg.org/issues/toxicsAF/20060308/index.php

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2006

Contact: EWG Action Fund Public Affairs Staff, (202)

667-6982

House Set To Nullify State Consumer Safety Programs

Under Pressure From Corporate Food Lobby

(WASHINGTON, Mar 8) - The House votes today on a bill

pitting giant food companies against the health and

safety of American families—a measure that could

nullify state laws warning consumers about mercury in

fish, lead in candy, arsenic in bottled water, benzene

in soft drinks and dozens of other dangers.

At least 227 members of the House are co-sponsors of

the legislation, which would force states to get the

federal government's permission before issuing food

advisories or strengthening federal food protections.

But the EWG Action Fund warned supporters of the bill

that they could face voters' wrath in November's

midterm congressional elections.

" This bill is a brazen attack on Americans' right to

know what's in their food, and on the states' right to

protect their citizens when the Food and Drug

Administration doesn't do its job—which is daily, "

said Wiles, Senior Vice President of EWG.

" Time after time, state consumer protection programs

fill the void after big companies like Sunny Delight,

Bumble Bee Seafoods and other companies with food

safety problems have used the FDA like a doormat. Any

member of Congress who votes with big food companies

on this issue is saying they really don't care about

whether their own constituents' food is safe. This is

the most important vote on food safety in a decade,

and the public will be watching. "

The House bill is a direct assault on California's

Proposition 65, a unique law that says any products

containing ingredients that could cause cancer or

reproductive harm must be labeled with a consumer

warning. Companies often choose to remove the toxic

ingredient rather than add a warning label. But

according to California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and

Barbara Boxer, more than 150 laws in all 50 states

would be struck down if the bill becomes law.

Over 40 states have advisories about mercury levels in

fish so that families can protect their children.

Others issue warnings on shellfish, milk, bottled

water, candy and many other products. Many state laws

are more stringent than federal regulations because

health officials are concerned that federal laws are

too lax.

Just last week, EWG Action Fund researchers posted a

list of over 20 soft drinks marketed to children that

contain two ingredients that, when mixed together, can

form the cancer-causing chemical benzene. The Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) knew about this problem in

1990, but trusted the beverage industry to fix it.

" For 16 years, the federal government failed to warned

the public that popular soft drinks may pose a risk to

their children's health, " said Wiles. " If beverages

with cancer-causing benzene are sold in California,

they should either carry a warning label, or the

dangerous chemicals must be removed. This bill would

take away the state's power to protect its citizens,

and make certain that this vital consumer protection

doesn't spread to other states. But when the FDA is

asleep at the switch, state laws are our last line of

defense against the irresponsible practices of the

food industry. "

Additional Resources

A list of drinks containing ascorbic acid and either

sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate

CBS 3 Philadelphia news report (video)

WJLA-TV DC news report (video)

UK, Germany testing sodas, too

FDA quietly investigating?

Soft drink industry pledges to follow through

###

EWG Action Fund is a legislative advocacy organization

that is related to EWG. EWG and EWG Action Fund use

the power of information to protect human health and

the environment. Their letter to the FDA and

additional information on benzene in soft drinks is

available online at http://www.ewg.org/

issues/toxics/20060228/. EWG's research on toxics and

children's health is available at http

://www.ewg.org/issues/siteindex/issues.php?issueid=5029.