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By Marni Rose McFall
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Lawmakers are moving to ban “toxic” chemicals in food packaging in a bill that is quickly gathering pace.
The legislation, brought by Democratic Representatives Jan Schakowsky (Illinois) and Rosa DeLauro (Connecticut), and Senator Richard Blumenthal, moves to ban what they have described as “dangerous toxic chemicals from food packaging and food processing materials.”
The bill has quickly attracted the support of nine cosponsors as it gathers pace.
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And it could be one to attract bipartisan support, as chemicals in food packaging are an issue that aligns with the Make America Healthy Again contingent, associated with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Republican party more broadly.
Why It Matters
The bill arrives amid growing bipartisan scrutiny of chemicals used in the U.S. food supply and consumer products. Since taking office, Kennedy has repeatedly called for greater oversight of chemicals in food, food additives and environmental exposures that he argues contribute to chronic disease.
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It also comes as the MAHA contingent is growing in influence. While the movement first gained prominence after Kennedy suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and subsequently endorsed Trump, the candidate he said could “make America healthy again.”
Farmer Zach Lahn, backed by MAHA, recently defeated a candidate backed by President Donald Trump in a primary in Iowa, marking the first loss for a Trump-endorsed candidate in the 2026 midterm election cycle, reflecting MAHA’s growing influence.
And while MAHA and the Democrats would agree on many health issues, concerns about PFAS, phthalates, BPA and other substances commonly found in food packaging have increasingly united environmental advocates, public health groups and some lawmakers across the political spectrum.
What This Bill Would Do
The No Toxics in Food Packaging Act would ban the use of several classes of chemicals in food packaging and food-processing materials that lawmakers and health advocates say pose significant risks to human health.
Among the substances targeted are PFAS, often called “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and the human body; ortho-phthalates, which are used to make plastics more flexible; and bisphenols such as BPA, which are commonly found in certain food containers and packaging materials.
The legislation would also prohibit other chemicals that have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, and other adverse health effects.
Supporters of the bill argue that Americans are routinely exposed to these substances through food packaging and food-contact materials, despite growing scientific evidence of their potential dangers.
Schakowsky said in a release about the bill, "Consumers should be able to trust that the food they put on their tables is safe. Yet harmful chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other serious health risks continue to be used in food packaging, exposing Americans to unnecessary dangers. These toxic substances have no place anywhere near our food.”
Lawmakers backing the measure say the legislation is intended to close regulatory gaps that have allowed some hazardous substances to remain in food-contact applications even after concerns about their safety have been raised.
The bill is also designed to strengthen federal oversight of chemicals used in food packaging. Advocates point to longstanding legal requirements that carcinogenic substances should not be approved for use in food-contact materials, arguing that enforcement has been inconsistent.
By explicitly prohibiting a range of harmful chemicals, supporters say the legislation would provide clearer standards for manufacturers and regulators while reducing reliance on case-by-case reviews of individual substances.
Blumenthal said in the release, **“**Our measure keeps cancer-causing toxins like PFAS and asbestos out of food packaging and processing materials.”
“Toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer and hormone disruption should be nowhere near our food. By banning these substances from food packaging, our legislation will give consumers peace of mind that the products in their pantries and fridges are not a risk to their health,” he added.
In addition to its lead sponsors, the bill has attracted cosponsorship from seven House members and four senators, including Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, and Ron Wyden.
It has also secured backing from a broad coalition of environmental, consumer protection, and public health organizations, including Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, the Environmental Defense Fund, Consumer Reports, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Friends of the Earth, Clean Water Action, and several other advocacy groups.
What Happens Next?
The legislation has quickly gathered momentum and will enter Congress with support from a group of Democratic lawmakers in both chambers.
The measure will now be referred to the relevant congressional committees, where lawmakers will decide whether to hold hearings, consider amendments, and advance the bill for votes in the House and Senate.
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