SPRINGFIELD – Following the Senate Public Health Committee’s approval of Senate Bill 93, State Senator Willie Preston joined fellow lawmakers and advocates at a press conference Wednesday to highlight his legislation to ban the use of harmful food additives.

“Consumers in Illinois should have full faith and trust in the foods and products they are consuming,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Right now, Illinoisans are consuming harmful products without realizing it. We must focus on consumer safety and offer clear directives to food manufactures in order to keep all of Illinois healthy.”

Senate Bill 93, better known as the Illinois Food Safety Act,  would ban specific, dangerous food additives from being used in the manufacturing, delivering, distributing, holding or selling of food products. These additives include potassium bromate and propylparaben.

As a father of six, Preston emphasized that this legislation prioritizes children who face increased risks from these chemicals due to their developing bodies and large consumption of these types of food products. The banned additives outlined in Preston’s legislation have been identified as detrimental to human health, with links to various health issues ranging from severe allergies to chronic diseases.

“As parents become more informed and concerned about what goes into their children’s food, legislative action to ban certain food additives becomes increasingly more important,” said State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett). “The United States is lagging behind several countries, including many in Europe and also India and China, when it comes to making our food supply safer. Illinois has an opportunity to be a leader on this important issue.”

“Families who live in poor areas or food deserts tend to go to convenience stores for all their grocery needs, so it’s essential that those foods are safe to consume, especially if they are eating them on a daily basis,” said State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet). “The Food and Drug Administration banning red dye No. 3 and brominated vegetable oil illustrates why this bill is needed – to ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean food.”

“Citizen Action/Illinois has fought for 50 years to ensure families have access to safe, healthy food—and SB 93 continues this mission by banning toxic additives like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye 3 that endanger public health,” said Anusha Thotakura, executive director of Citizen Action/Illinois. “We urge swift passage of this critical bill and thank Senator Preston for prioritizing Illinoisans’ safety over corporate shortcuts,”

Senate Bill 93 awaits further discussion in the Senate.