A recent poll conducted by The Tyson Groups states that 76% of Republicans want federal oversight over healthier food through Donald Trump and Robert Kennedy Jr. Notably, respondents make no mention of state-level restrictions.
Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) continues pushing back against a bipartisan bill that would require a warning label on the packaging of Florida food and beverages containing synthetic dyes, including its possible adverse effects on state businesses.
A supporter of President Donald Trump, Rep. Porras argued the health-based initiative was already being handled at the federal level and should not be enacted by the state.
"Florida voters overwhelmingly selected President Trump to deal with issues like these and a lot of this is part Robert Kennedy Jr. They are tackling the issue at the federal level," Porras told The Floridian. "What we don't want to see happen here at the state is any kind of policy that would either obstruct or really make it more difficult for the feds to implement the types of policies that we need to resolve this issue."
Reps. Debra Tendrich (D-Lake Worth) and Karen Gonzalez Pittman (R-Tampa) filed the House version of the bill in question. Sen. Tom Wright (R-Port Orange) filed the Senate version.
Under HB 641/SB 764, food and drink products for human consumption that contain synthetic dyes colors such as Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and titanium dioxide must display the following warning label on its packaging.
WARNING: "This product contains synthetic colors, which may have an adverse effect on the activity and attention in children."
According to Porras, the House version appears to be at a standstill.
"There was a piece of legislation in one of my committees that I felt was too restrictive and too regulatory in nature that would have probably brought California-like regulations to Florida. I told the public that I was opposed and the bill was postponed and from my knowledge will not be heard," Porras said.
"The bill would've had all these manufacturing companies make it more expensive for any kind of beverage or food product to come into the state of Florida alone because of the excessive labeling that this bill would have allowed," Porras added.
The bill even received outside criticism from Conservative firebrand Laura Loomer.
"Why are Florida lawmakers entertaining the concept of having state-wide and state-individualized labeling for food and beverage products when there are 50 states and interstate commerce?" Loomer asked.
Loomer mentioned the bill was "good in concept but terrible in execution", and echoed Porras' sentiment that any measure should be handled at the federal level.
Porras also signaled Miami House Republicans Vicki Lopez and Demi Busatta Cabrera were against the bill.
"I think at a point in time when our economy is where it's at and we're trying to fight back against government waste and whatnot, I think it would not help if the government were to come and just impose unnecessary restrictions on food companies and beverage companies just for the sake of doing so when the federal government is already taking action," Porras said.
