Business Owners Urge Hochul to Veto Food Bill
More than 300 small business owners want Governor Kathy Hochul to reject a bill that would ban three food additives and require ingredient safety reporting.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Organic Food
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Should Governor Hochul veto the food safety bill over concerns about grocery prices?
The New York legislature passed a food safety bill in both the state Senate and Assembly and sent it to Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday. More than 300 small business owners have asked her to veto it.
Why it matters
The business owners argue the bill could raise costs for food companies and leave shoppers with fewer choices at New York grocery stores. The proposal would affect what additives can be used in food sold across the state.
The bill would ban Red Dye 3, potassium bromate and propylparaben. An economic analysis cited by the business owners estimates grocery costs would rise about 6%, or $620 a year for the average household, though the source does not say whether the figure has been independently verified.
The players
Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul is the Governor of New York, who now has the decision whether to sign or veto the food safety bill.
The details
The bill would require food manufacturers to report safety information about certain ingredients they consider safe to use in food, with the information made available in a state database. Independently owned businesses with 100 or fewer employees are exempt from the reporting requirements.
Timeline
Friday: Legislation passed in both the state Senate and Assembly was sent to Governor Kathy Hochul.
Reader Impact
The bill would add new ingredient safety reporting and additive bans to New York's food rules, which could affect what products stock shelves in the state. The business owners' objection centers on whether those rules raise prices for food companies and reduce product choice for shoppers.
If the bill becomes law, grocery shoppers in New York could see changes in which additives appear in food products. The business owners estimate household costs could rise by $620 a year.
The takeaway
Food additive rules can affect both product choice and household budgets, so shoppers may want to watch how Governor Hochul acts on this bill and how any final version changes what appears on store shelves.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food for context on how food additive rules shape what shoppers find at the store.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WPIX.
Live Poll
Should Governor Hochul veto the food safety bill over concerns about grocery prices?
