No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced
Summary
Would deem a set of listed toxic chemicals unsafe for use in food-contact materials to cut consumer exposures. The bill names substances such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ortho-phthalates, bisphenols (A, B, S, F, AF), benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos, styrene polymers, and several solvents and additives that would be treated as unsafe in packaging and other food-contact uses.
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- Infants, children, adolescents, pregnant people, and the elderly are identified as vulnerable populations and would receive extra consideration when safety is evaluated.
- Workers exposed to chemicals and residents of communities with disproportionate exposures are also listed as vulnerable populations and must be considered when the Secretary reviews alternative substances.
- States and localities could adopt stricter rules than the federal baseline, the definition of "food additive" would explicitly cover food-contact substances, and the provisions would begin to apply two years after enactment to allow time for rulemaking and petitions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban many toxic food packaging chemicals
If enacted, this bill would deem many listed chemicals unsafe for use in food packaging. The list includes ortho-phthalates; PFAS; Bisphenol A, B, S, F, or AF and related compounds; acrolein; acrylamide; BHA; chlorinated paraffins; 1,4-dioxane; asbestos; benzene; chloroform; methylene chloride; ethylene oxide; formaldehyde; and styrene polymers. This would take effect two years after enactment. The FDA would have to consider harms to vulnerable populations, like infants, pregnant people, older adults, exposed workers, and heavily exposed communities, when it reviews alternative substances.
States can set stricter food rules
If enacted, the bill would let States and localities adopt laws that are additional to or more stringent than the federal rules about food additives, including banning a substance as a food additive. States could regulate manufacture, distribution, sale, or use of foods containing those additives. The bill would say federal law does not change any State-level liability. It would define "food additive" in this subsection to include food-contact substances. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/22/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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