Texas shoppers could soon see new warning labels on many well-known snacks and drinks. A bipartisan bill passed by the state legislature would require products like Doritos and Mountain Dew to display a label stating they contain ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” in other Western countries. Governor Greg Abbott has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill into law.
If enacted, the law would take effect in 2027 and apply to foods containing any of more than 40 specific ingredients. These include bleached flour, synthetic dyes, sweeteners, certain oils, and preservatives—such as Olestra, a fat substitute once popular in the 1990s but later criticized for health concerns.
The proposed warning, outlined in the “Make Texas Healthy Again” bill, reads:
“WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authorities in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom.”
The label would appear on a wide range of processed foods, including chips, candy, soda, breakfast cereals, snack cakes, cookies, frozen meals, and processed meats.
Although Texas is known for opposing government regulation, the bill has gained support across party lines. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also endorsed the measure, which aligns with his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. The bill follows a broader trend, including the FDA’s recent 2025 decision to ban several synthetic food dyes.
However, food industry groups have raised concerns. In a letter to Texas lawmakers, some manufacturers argued that the warning label could mislead consumers and create confusion. They questioned why Texas should base its regulations on other countries’ standards and warned that the law might limit access to popular foods and increase prices.
If signed into law, the Texas requirement could influence labeling practices nationwide. Companies might choose to add the warning to all U.S. packaging instead of producing separate versions for Texas. This move could also prompt a shift toward cleaner ingredients, similar to the industry’s response to the FDA’s synthetic dye ban.
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