BILL REQ. #:  H-5238.1 

Read first time 02/06/08.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to food contamination; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that at least one study has shown that urine and saliva of children eating a variety of nonorganic foods from Washington grocers contained biological markers of food contamination. Because children's bodies are growing and developing, they are especially vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals. While the federal government assessed and reformulated the nation's food safety laws with the 1996 enactment of the food quality protection act, additional research may need to be conducted to determine whether the contaminants measured in Washington children would cause any adverse health outcomes. There is substantial toxicologic evidence that repeated low-level exposure to food contaminants may affect neurodevelopment and growth in developing animals. To protect children's health, it is important to know the extent of the presence of food contamination in our food, the effect of repeated low-level exposure to food contamination on children, what research has been conducted in this area, and whether further studies or regulations are needed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The department of health is directed to:
     (1) Review existing studies of the cumulative developmental risk to children from low-dose exposures to food contamination and report to the legislature on:
     (a) The findings, results, and recommendations from the studies; and
     (b) Any scientific gaps in these studies or scientific questions raised by the studies that the department finds should be researched in order to best protect children from food safety risks associated with food contamination.
     (2) Review actions taken by the United States environmental protection agency in implementation of the 1996 food quality protection act and report to the legislature on any areas where additional research is needed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The department of health shall submit its report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2008. The report shall include specific recommendations for legislative action for how the state can help reduce food contaminants.