Over the past month, Texas and Louisiana have made significant strides in food regulation, enacting first-in-the-nation legislation that introduces specific labeling requirements for food products containing certain ingredients. These bills are part of a broader set of policies aimed at improving public health, echoing the goals of the federal “Make American Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative.
The MAHA initiative, spearheaded by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, was established by an Executive Order signed by President Trump on February 13, 2025. The MAHA Commission, chaired by Secretary Kennedy, includes high-ranking officials from various departments such as the USDA, FDA, and EPA. Their mission is to address the childhood chronic disease crisis, and they released their initial findings in the “MAHA report” on May 24, 2025. While the report did not include specific policy actions, Secretary Kennedy has been actively promoting MAHA priorities through agency initiatives and state-level advocacy.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 25 into law on June 22, 2025. This legislation encompasses several MAHA policies, including nutrition training for medical professionals, physical education mandates for students, and the creation of a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee. The most groundbreaking aspect of SB 25 is its labeling requirements. Foods containing any of the bill’s 44 listed ingredients must bear a specific disclosure: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.” This warning must be prominently displayed on the product’s packaging and website.
The list of 44 ingredients includes azodicarbonamide, bleached flour, propylparaben, interesterified soybean oil, and any “certified food colors by the United States Food and Drug Administration,” among others. The labeling requirement does not apply to products not intended for human consumption, foods sold in restaurants or retail establishments, USDA-regulated products, drugs, dietary supplements, or agricultural chemicals. Violations of the labeling requirement can be enforced by the Texas attorney general, but the bill does not create a private cause of action.
The labeling requirement is preempted if the federal government, post-September 1, 2025, prohibits the use of the specific ingredient, imposes conditions on its use, or determines it safe for human consumption. Additionally, the requirement is preempted if the federal government implements a law or regulation requiring an ultra-processed or processed food-related labeling statement after September 2025. The warning requirement only applies to food product labels developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027.
In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards signed SB 14 into law, also known as Louisiana’s “MAHA bill.” While the specific details of SB 14 were not provided, it is part of the broader MAHA initiative and aims to improve public health through food-related policies.
The implications of these bills are significant. For Texas, the labeling requirement impacts food for human consumption regulated by the FDA, not USDA-regulated products like meat, poultry, catfish, and unshelled eggs. Online retailers selling food items in Texas must also comply with the labeling requirement, even if they do not have a physical presence in the state. However, the bill’s scope is narrower than it may initially appear, as it only applies to food product labels developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027.
These state-level actions align with the federal MAHA initiative and reflect a growing trend in food regulation aimed at improving public health. As more states consider similar legislation, the American food system may see significant changes in the coming years. The impact of these policies on public health, food manufacturers, and consumers remains to be seen, but they represent a notable shift in the approach to food regulation and nutrition education.