Texas Consumers Fight Back: We’re Done Eating Cancer‑Causing Ingredients and Being Told to Shut Up

Big food has been slowly poisoning us for decades, hiding behind slick marketing and obscure ingredient lists. Now, those same corporations dare to complain to the Texas House and Senate, begging lawmakers not to force them to disclose which additives in their products are banned elsewhere by voting against SB25/HB25. They claim that honest labels would hurt their bottom line while ignoring how these ingredients have been linked to cancer, obesity, and other chronic diseases. As a Texan who's watched family and friends struggle with diet‑related illnesses, I'm done listening to their corporate sob stories. This is our food, our health, and our right to know...if they don't like it, they can kindly fuck off.

I've spent some time going through that industry coalition's letter and digging into the science behind the additives they want to keep hidden. What I've found should make any Texan furious. Here's my plain‑spoken, pro‑consumer rebuttal.

CORPORATE PROFITS VS. PUBLIC HEALTH

The Big Food coalition's appeal to "economic impacts" rings hollow when you look at what's at stake. They argue that warning labels will destabilize jobs and hurt prices; meanwhile, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has climbed above 40 % and severe obesity is nearing 10 %, conditions that raise the risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Being overweight isn't just a vanity issue; it's a public health crisis. Companies that manufacture ultra-processed foods loaded with chemical additives contribute to this crisis.

SB 25 isn't some radical overreach. It's a modest requirement that foods containing any of forty‑four questionable additives must carry a warning that regulators in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom do not recommend one or more ingredients. It doesn't ban anything; it simply tells consumers the truth.

THE CHEMICALS THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT

Let's talk about those additives. Many of them have been restricted or banned in other countries because of documented health risks:

- Potassium Bromate and Azodicarbonamide – Used as dough conditioners, these chemicals have been linked to kidney and thyroid cancers in rodents. They are banned in the European Union, China, Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom. Azodicarbonamide also breaks down during baking into semicarbazide and urethane; urethane is "reasonably anticipated" to be a human carcinogen.

- BHA and BHT – Synthetic antioxidants that keep oils from going rancid. The National Toxicology Program has classified BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," and studies show it can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage, leading to tumor formation. BHT isn't classified as carcinogenic, but evidence links it to respiratory irritation and damage to the liver and kidneys. Despite this, U.S. regulators still allow both in cereals and packaged foods.

- Titanium Dioxide (E171) – A whitening agent found in candies, gum, and frostings. France banned it in 2020, and the European Union followed in 2022. Research links it to genotoxicity, DNA damage, and intestinal inflammation, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 2B carcinogen ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"). In rodent and cell studies, titanium dioxide nanoparticles were shown to damage DNA and hinder cell regeneration.

- Red Dye No. 3 – An artificial dye used in candy, frosting, and medicines. The FDA finally moved to revoke its authorization in January 2025 after studies showed high doses caused cancer in male rats. The dye has been banned in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand for years.

These examples are just a handful of the forty‑four additives targeted by SB 25. The common thread is that they're synthetic substances with little nutritional value and mounting evidence of harm. Other countries have already acted; Texas is simply catching up.

DON'T LET THE FOX GUARD THE HENHOUSE

Industry groups complain that Texas is "getting ahead of the national process." That so‑called process has left many additives effectively self‑regulated. Companies can declare ingredients "generally recognized as safe" without independent FDA review. Once a substance receives that designation, there is little incentive to re‑examine it, even when new evidence emerges. That's why petitions to ban potassium bromate and other chemicals have languished for decades.

This self‑policing has real consequences. Ultra‑processed foods – loaded with additives, emulsifiers, and dyes – now account for up to 58 % of energy intake in the United States. A 2024 umbrella review in the *British Medical Journal* found that greater exposure to ultra‑processed foods was associated with higher risks of cardiometabolic diseases, mental disorders, and death. Those aren't fringe claims; they're based on dozens of meta‑analyses.

THE MAHA PERSPECTIVE: WE DESERVE BETTER

As a Texan and an advocate for "Make America Healthy Again," I don't care about corporate margins; I care about my family's health. We've spent decades watching obesity, diabetes, and cancer rates climb while multinational companies pump us full of chemicals. I'm tired of being told that a little bit of poison is fine because it keeps bread fluffy or candy shiny.

Warnings aren't bans; they're a free‑market solution. They give consumers information so we can choose whether to support companies that use cheap chemicals or those that invest in safer ingredients. If a label saying "this product contains an ingredient not recommended for human consumption" hurts sales, maybe the ingredient doesn't belong in food.

To the coalition: You employ thousands of Texans, but you also sell products that contribute to chronic disease. Rather than fighting transparency, invest in innovation. Replace potassium bromate with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), as several chains already have. Use natural colorings like beet juice instead of red dye No. 3. Consumers are demanding cleaner products; meeting that demand is good business.

SB 25's warning labels empower us to make informed decisions. They align with conservative values of personal responsibility and limited government overreach. If companies don't want to apply warning labels, they can reformulate their products. If they choose not to, they have no right to hide behind economic fear-mongering.

We're not your guinea pigs. We're your customers. And we have every right to know what you're putting in our food.

---

If you believe Texans deserve honest labels and full transparency about what’s in our food, don’t just get mad, get involved. Below is a list of Texas state officials and agencies that play a role in food-labeling legislation. I’ve included contact pages, phone numbers, and links to help you find your own representatives. Take a few minutes to call, email, or tag them online. Let them know you support SB25 and expect them to stand with Texas consumers, not Big Food.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Governor Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) – Office of the Governor of Texas. The Governor’s Office oversees all state agencies and would be central to any statewide labeling policy. Main switchboard: 512‑463‑2000, Hotline: 800‑843‑5789 (Texas) / 512‑463‑1782 (Austin/out‑of‑state). 

‑ Website/Contact: gov.texas.gov/contact

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑2000; Toll‑Free 800‑843‑5789

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) – Office of the Lieutenant Governor. As President of the Senate, Patrick controls committee assignments and can shape the fate of bills. Message: 512‑463‑5342; Office: 512‑463‑0001.  

‑ Website/Contact: ltgov.texas.gov/contact

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑5342; 512‑463‑0001

Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX & @TXAG for the official office) – Consumer Protection Division enforces state consumer laws like those around mislabeled products. Hotline: 800‑621‑0508; Switchboard: 512‑463‑2100.  

‑ Website/Contact: texasattorneygeneral.gov/contact-us

‑ Hotline: 800‑621‑0508; Switchboard: 512‑463‑2100

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS

Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) – The Speaker appoints committee chairs and controls legislation flow in the House. Office: 512‑463‑1000. 

‑ Website/Contact: house.texas.gov/speaker

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑1000

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

‑ Chair: Senator Lois Kolkhorst (@LoisKolkhorst) – Reviews health‑related legislation including food labeling. Clerk Sally Buck. Committee: 512‑463‑0360.  

‑ Website/Contact: senate.texas.gov/cmte.php?c=HHS

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑0360

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

‑ Chair: Senator Charles Perry (@electcharles) – Oversees agriculture and rural‑affairs policy. Committee: 512‑463‑0340. 

‑ Website/Contact: senate.texas.gov/cmte.php?c=AWR

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑0340

House Committee on Public Health

‑ Chair: Representative Gary VanDeaver (@GaryVanDeaver) – Manages public‑health matters including food safety. Vice‑Chair: Liz Campos. Clerk: Scott Crownover. Committee: 512‑463‑0806. 

‑ Website/Contact: house.texas.gov/committees/committee/410

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑0806

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

‑ Chair: Representative Ryan Guillen (@RyanGuillen) – Oversees agriculture and livestock policy. Vice‑Chair: Bobby Guerra. Clerk: Jonathan Wilson. Committee: 512‑463‑0762. 

‑ Website/Contact: house.texas.gov/committees/committee/020

‑ Phone: 512‑463‑0762

STATE AGENCIES

Texas Department of Agriculture (@TexasAgriCom) – Regulates ag products and food labeling. Main: 512‑463‑7476; Toll‑Free: 800‑835‑5832. Address: 1700 N. Congress, 11th floor, Austin, TX 78701.  

‑ Website/Contact: texasagriculture.gov/home/contact-us

Texas Department of State Health Services (@TexasDSHS) – Oversees public health and food safety. Calls: 512‑776‑7111; Toll‑Free: 888‑963‑7111.  (Assumed official)

‑ Website/Contact: dshs.texas.gov/contact-us

Texas Health & Human Services Commission (@TexasHHS) – Handles nutrition and health‑service programs. Main office: 512‑424‑6500. 

‑ Website/Contact: hhs.texas.gov/about/contact-us

FIND YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS

Who Represents Me? Tool – Enter your address to find your Texas senator and house member (X handles included on linked pages).

‑ Website: wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Texas Senate Members Directory – Full list of all 31 state senators with contact info and X profiles.

‑ Website: senate.texas.gov/members.php

---

I am an Ad-Age, Emmy, Shorty, Telly, and Webby Award-Winning Social Media Strategist and Content Creator for outdoor lifestyle, adventure, travel, and recreation brands. Over two decades, I’ve honed my skills in digital storytelling and brand strategy, working with top-tier food & beverage and outdoor lifestyle brands. My expertise lies in creating engaging digital content and crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences, elevate brand presence, and foster strong online communities.