We demand New Jersey align its food additive rules with the European Union's standards so NJ residents can trust what's sold here.

To the New Jersey Legislature:

We, the undersigned New Jersey residents, call on the New Jersey Legislature to pass an “EU-Standard Food Safety Act” to ensure foods sold in New Jersey meet modern, evidence-based safety standards.

The European Union maintains a public “Union list” of food additives approved for use and conditions of use under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, supported by an official additives database. New Jersey should adopt this existing standard rather than relying on outdated U.S. processes that allow many additives to remain legal unless proven harmful after widespread exposure. 

We call on the Legislature to:

• Prohibit the sale in New Jersey of foods containing food additives that are not authorized in the European Union under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 (and subsequent amendments), unless NJ conducts an independent safety review and explicitly authorizes that additive.  
• Automatically prohibit additives the EU has removed/banned, including titanium dioxide (E171), which the EU banned as a food additive through Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63.  
• Use New Jersey’s “adulterated food” enforcement model to make prohibited additives illegal to sell, distribute, or manufacture for sale in NJ—similar to existing NJ proposals that treat certain additives as “adulterated food.”  
• Set a realistic phase-in period (example: 12–24 months) for reformulation and compliance, with faster timelines for school foods.
  Require transparency: a public NJ webpage listing prohibited additives (with EU references) and clear reporting for enforcement.

This is not about fear or perfection. It is about giving New Jersey residents confidence that foods sold in our state meet modern safety standards already adopted elsewhere.

We urge the New Jersey Legislature to introduce, advance, and pass this legislation without delay.

Signed,

Concerned New Jersey Residents