Texas Food Label Law Targets Harmful Additives: What You Need to Know!

Pembroke Pines, USA - Texas is stepping up its game when it comes to food safety, embarking on a bold new law that requires warning labels on snacks and packaged food products containing over 40 dyes and additives that other countries have deemed unfit for human consumption. This law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, is set to take effect in 2027 as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Visitors to Texas might soon see labels asserting that certain ingredients are “not recommended for human consumption” in places like Australia, Canada, the EU, and the U.K. ABC 7 Amarillo reports that this legislation has gathered bipartisan support, making it the first of its kind in the United States to specifically address food additives with such labeling requirements.

Yet, it isn’t all smooth sailing. Critics are already voicing concerns about the potential for confusion and misinformation, as a review found that nearly a dozen targeted additives are either allowed in other regions or already restricted in the U.S. This discrepancy raises questions about accuracy and the potential for legal challenges from food companies that might find the new regulations burdensome. The process for compiling the list of ingredients remains murky, with unanswered inquiries directed at the bill’s author. The legislation also includes some loopholes, potentially exempting certain ingredients from the required warnings.

CRC’s Response and National Trends

Food companies, reflecting on the requirements, may be looking at their options: reformulating their products, adding the mandated language to their labels, or, in some cases, removing products entirely from Texas shelves. The situation is exacerbated by the possibility that federal officials, including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could intervene. There’s talk that the FDA may establish its own labeling requirements or approve the safety of certain ingredients, which could nullify the law. Food Dive highlights that the controversy encompasses more than just Texas. Other states like California, Arkansas, and West Virginia have begun implementing or considering similar measures to restrict food additives, furthering a nationwide conversation about food safety.

There’s no denying that public health advocates are pushing for these changes. Numerous studies suggest that certain artificial dyes may have negative neurobehavioral effects on children, sparking strong support for this Texas law amongst nutrition experts and health advocates. While the FDA maintains that approved dyes are safe, the growing scrutiny is part of a larger movement to enhance food safety regulations across the nation. In early 2025, the FDA even classified the widely used Red No. 3 dye as „unsafe,“ leading to its removal from approved listings. ASTHO details how several other states are pursuing similar avenues—whether it be outright bans on certain additives or limitations placed on school foods.

As the landscape of food regulation evolves, the Texas law embodies both the desire for transparency and the complexities of food safety. It mandates that products sold or developed after January 1, 2027, must articulate their ingredient dangers clearly. However, as with many good intentions, the implementation and efficacy of such regulations depend not only on legislative action but also on public awareness and industry compliance. The winds of change are brewing, and it remains to be seen how this will ultimately play out—both in Texas and beyond.