Political Quotes

“I rise today to introduce the Protect Our Food From Phthalate Contamination Act. This bill would ban chemicals called ortho-phthalates from materials that come in contact with our food, because these phthalates have been found to actually leach into what we eat. Phthalates have been known to interfere with the body's hormones, leading to a range of health concerns including reproductive harm. These chemicals have also been linked to learning and behavior problems in children and insulin resistance in adolescents and adults. According to a recent study, individuals who regularly eat out had 30 percent higher phthalate levels. The findings for teenagers are particularly troubling, where testing showed phthalate levels 55 percent higher than people who ate at home. Enjoying a meal out or using packaged food to prepare meals on a busy schedule shouldn't come with the cost of chemical exposure that can cause harm. We've already banned certain phthalates from children's toys due to serious health concerns, and now we need to remove the exposure through the food we eat. Phthalates can be found throughout the food supply chain, from the plastic gloves worn to handle food to the containers and wrappings used for packaging. This legislation would specifically ban the type of phthalates, ortho-phthalates, currently being used in some food production and packaging, and require that any substance used as a replacement is also safe.…”