Food Industry Groups Sue Texas to Block New Warning Labels on Synthetic Ingredients
December 9, 2025 – A coalition of major food and beverage trade groups filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to halt a new Texas law that would require warning labels on products containing certain synthetic food additives. The American Beverage Association, Consumer Brands Association, National Confectioners Association, and FMI – The Food Industry Association – jointly lodged the suit, calling the proposed labels “false and misleading,” according to Reuters.
The legislation would mandate that affected products carry a prominent statement reading: “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.”
But the groups argue that none of those jurisdictions have formally designated the listed ingredients as “not recommended for human consumption,” and therefore the warning falsely implies a level of international disapproval that does not exist.
“The listed ingredients have been used safely in American foods and beverages for decades,” the associations said in their complaint. They contend the law forces companies to tell Texas shoppers something that is “simply not true,” creating unnecessary alarm and damaging consumer trust.
Industry leaders also warned the measure would drive up costs. Companies would be forced either to reformulate products or redesign packaging specifically for the Texas market, potentially affecting supply chains nationwide. Some of the ingredients targeted by the law, the plaintiffs note, have already been restricted or banned at the federal level, further complicating compliance.
The lawsuit comes amid heightened national scrutiny of U.S. food ingredients, particularly synthetic color additives. Since taking office, President Trump’s administration has moved to phase out petroleum-based dyes. In April, the FDA announced plans to revoke authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, and said it intends to remove several FD&C dyes from the food supply by next year—a claim questioned by consumer advocates who say the agency has not begun formal rulemaking.
States have also taken action. West Virginia banned seven synthetic dyes in school food earlier this year, prompting its own industry lawsuit.
Texas officials have not yet responded publicly to the new challenge.
