Could New York Pizza & Bagels Soon Taste Different? Lawmakers Push Major Ingredient Crackdown

New York pizza and bagels are basically sacred. But a new proposed law could soon change the recipe behind two of the Empire State’s most iconic foods.

New York lawmakers are moving to ban several controversial food additives that experts say may be linked to cancer, hormone problems, kidney damage, and behavioral issues in children. One of the biggest targets? Potassium bromate — a chemical commonly added to flour to help dough rise higher and appear whiter.

That ingredient has reportedly been used in some pizza doughs, bagels, breads, and processed foods for years.

The New York State Assembly recently passed the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, which now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for review. If signed into law, New York would join places like California, the United Kingdom, and the European Union in restricting or banning some of these additives.

Lawmakers behind the bill say consumers deserve to know exactly what’s in their food.

State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “Any substance that is linked to cancer has no place in our food, period.”

The legislation would also require companies to publicly disclose certain ingredients they’ve previously been allowed to keep confidential under federal “Generally Recognized As Safe” standards.

And it’s not just pizza and bagels that could be affected.

The proposal also targets food dyes often found in candy, cereal, soda, and school foods. Additives including Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and others could face restrictions during school hours.

Some New York pizzerias already avoid potassium bromate entirely, saying they don’t need it to make quality dough.

Supporters of the bill say customers likely won’t notice much of a taste difference. Critics worry the changes could impact texture, shelf life, and cost for small businesses.

One thing’s for sure… if New Yorkers notice even the slightest difference in their pizza or bagels, you KNOW they’re going to have opinions. ????????????

What do YOU think?
Would you support removing these additives from food in Michigan… even if it slightly changes the taste or texture?