The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries favored a bill 8-0 on Wednesday that would require labels for any food product that contains vaccines or vaccine material.
Sen. Joe Gruters filed the bill (SB 196). Rep. Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay) sponsored a House version (HB 525).
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, more Americans are paying closer attention to their health now more than ever,” Gruters said in a press release. “This legislation enhances transparency to help protect Floridians from untested, experimental processes to genetically modify their food with potentially dangerous mRNA vaccines. I am proud to see this legislation move forward as we work to make America healthy again!”
Sen. Gruters' legislation comes as some Florida lawmakers step up efforts to provide warning labels on the packaging of food and beverage products.
SB 196 would require "clear" labeling on any food products containing vaccines or vaccine materials. Products that do not meet the labeling requirement will be deemed a misbranded drug and also misbranded food.
Furthermore, the bill would ban the use of a fruit or vegetable as a delivery mechanism for an mRNA vaccine.
The release noted SB 196 was amended to include a prohibition on toxic chemicals in makeup products. Specifically, the sale of cosmetics containing "ortho-phthalates, PFAS, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals" identified in the bill would be banned from makeup products that are manufactured, sold, offered, distributed for sale, or distributed for use in the state.
“As a farmer, I know all too well the healing properties that many foods possess. Food certainly can be medicine,” Senate President Ben Albritton said. “However, many Floridians have genuine concerns about the practice of genetically engineering foods to contain experimental vaccines. The families across our state deserve to know what is in the food they eat. This legislation ensures transparency in our food supply.”
SB 196 now heads to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government for consideration. If fully passed by the Florida Legislature, the bill would take effect on July 1.
