Illinois Lawmakers Just Said No More to These Two Food Additives

It turns out that some of our favorite foods come with a side of science experiment. Illinois lawmakers are stepping in to clean up our snacks whether we like it or not.

Illinois Moves to Ban Two Food Additives

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The Illinois Senate just passed a bill that would ban potassium bromate and propylparaben, two additives most of us didn't know were hanging out in our bread, muffins, and possibly half the snacks on your breakroom table. These additives sound more like something Walter White would need for his lab.

These chemicals are used to improve the texture and shelf life of baked goods, but they've also raised health concerns.

If the bill becomes law, businesses in Illinois will no longer be able to distribute food with these ingredients starting in 2028. That gives manufacturers a few years to clean up their recipes.

All of this follows the FDA's earlier decision to ban Red Dye 3, which has been phased out of food, drinks, and medications. So yes, it looks like we're slowly peeling back the ingredient labels and collectively going, "Wait... we've been eating what!?!"

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What This Means Bakeries, Grocery Stores, and Gas Station Snack Aisles

All of those places mentioned above will be getting a bit of a makeover. While this won't change your morning donut overnight, it's a good reminder to check those labels — especially if it looks like it came from your teenager's science textbook.

The bill now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives, according to wcia.com. Stay tuned, and maybe take a second look at that cupcake before diving in.

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