Bill > SB155

This bill creates a new Panel on Food Safety consisting of three members appointed by the governor, each with scientific expertise in areas such as chemical risk assessment, toxicology, chemistry, and food technology. The panel will meet quarterly and serve without compensation, but with potential reimbursement for expenses. The panel's primary responsibilities include studying the cumulative effects of food additives and colors in the diet and advising the Department of Agriculture on limiting the availability of foods with potentially negative toxic effects. The bill amends existing laws to give the Department of Agriculture the authority to enforce these recommendations in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Specifically, the panel will conduct comprehensive analyses of food additives and colors, considering their potential cumulative impacts on human health, and can recommend restrictions on specific food items based on their scientific findings. The panel is administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture and will provide expert guidance to help protect public health by identifying and potentially limiting potentially harmful food additives and colors.