Bill
A 4132
NJ A4132 adds four chemicals (BVO, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye 3) to 'adulterated' foods, bans sale/manufacture/possession for sale, with $50-$1,000 penalties.
Status and procedural history
- Bill No.: A4132
- Introduced: April 4, 2024
- Reported with committee amendments: Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee, May 16, 2024
- Most recent referral: Referred to Economic Development (Jan. 31, 2025)
- Sponsors (in bill text): Assemblywoman Shama A. Haider (LD 37) and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (LD 15). (Metadata also lists Albert A. Stirpe as a sponsor.)
- Companion/related bills: S3016; S5396; prior-session A9070.
Purpose / intent
- To expand the statutory definition of “adulterated” commercial food for human consumption by adding four specific chemical substances, thereby prohibiting their sale, distribution, manufacture for sale, or possession with intent to sell in New Jersey.
Key provisions / changes
- Amends R.S.24:5-8 to add a new subsection (E) listing four substances that render a food “adulterated”:
1. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) — CAS 8016-94-2
2. Potassium bromate — CAS 7758-01-2
3. Propylparaben — CAS 94-13-3
4. Red dye 3 — CAS 16423-68-0
- Maintains the existing enforcement framework under the State Sanitary Code: it is unlawful to distribute, sell, manufacture for sale or distribution, or possess with intent to sell or distribute adulterated food.
- Penalties: each violation of the State Sanitary Code is a separate offense punishable by fines between $50 and $1,000 (per existing law/provisions referenced in the statement).
- Effective date: the first day of the 13th month following enactment. The Commissioner of Health may take anticipatory administrative actions before that date to implement the law.
Committee amendments
- Clarified that the prohibition applies to “food for human consumption” that is adulterated.
- Replaced some pronouns with “the food” and made technical grammatical and syntactic corrections; updated the title/synopsis to reflect amendments.
Who is affected
- Food manufacturers, processors, importers, distributors, retailers, and other entities involved in commercial food sale or distribution in New Jersey.
- Consumers indirectly (by removal of specified substances from foods sold in-state).
- The Department of Health (enforcement and rulemaking/inspection under the State Sanitary Code).
Notes / context
- The bill’s statement cites that each listed chemical is prohibited in processed food in the European Union and references scientific studies indicating potential public health risks, particularly to children. The bill relies on New Jersey’s existing sanitary code enforcement mechanisms rather than creating a new enforcement regime.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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