This week, PA Chamber Manager of Government Affairs Aaron Riggleman testified before the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee to raise concerns about the so-called “Healthy PA” legislative package. The package includes a series of bills that would impose state-specific food ingredient bans, labeling mandates, and regulatory requirements.

 

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Riggleman emphasized that the Commonwealth already benefits from a nationally consistent food safety system, overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, that balances consumer protection with efficient supply chain operations. He described the challenges on employers and consumers if food safety transitioned to a patchwork of processes and standards throughout the country. His testimony further focused on the potential for these bills to increase food prices, create compliance hurdles for businesses, and undercut Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.

 

“These objectives are best achieved through a consistent, science-based federal framework and market-driven innovation,” Riggleman said.

 

The PA Chamber led a broad coalition of food supply chain organizations in submitting a joint letter to the committee, opposing the legislation. Signatories included manufacturing, agriculture, distribution, and retail groups employing hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. The coalition warned that the bills would lead to a fragmented patchwork of rules, particularly around ingredient labeling and color additive restrictions, duplicating FDA oversight and undermining consumer confidence.

 

The letter singled out House Bill 1130 for creating a Pennsylvania-specific Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) program, arguing it would function as a “de facto parallel FDA,” complete with discretionary fees and open-ended approval timelines. The letter also flagged other bills in the package that would require new Pennsylvania-only food regulatory mandates (H.B. 1131, H.B. 1133, H.B. 1134, and H.B. 1135) as problematic for businesses that must navigate duplicative—and even contradictory—state and federal mandates without added public benefit.

While supporting public health remains a shared priority, Riggleman urged lawmakers to avoid unintended consequences that could result from diverging from the established federal system, including harming Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and burdening employers with excessive regulation.

 

The Chamber will continue working with policymakers to find balanced, practical solutions that maintain consumer confidence and protect Pennsylvania’s economy.