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Bill would change baby food label language to 'toxic elements' to match California; retailers favor alignment
Summary
Delegate Tavares asked the committee to replace the phrase "toxic heavy metals" with "toxic elements" on baby food labels to harmonize Maryland's statute with California. Retailers and the sponsor described the change as terminological alignment and not a substantive new requirement.
A bill proposing a single-word change to baby food labeling — replacing "toxic heavy metals" with "toxic elements" — was presented as a technical alignment with California law during a House Health and Government Operations Committee hearing.
"This bill proposes a crucial update to the terminology used on these labels... changing toxic heavy metal to toxic element," Delegate Tavares said, asking the committee for a favorable report.
The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill does not impose new testing or disclosure requirements beyond those Maryland previously enacted; rather, it harmonizes label language so national manufacturers can comply with both California and Maryland rules. Sarah Price of the Maryland Retailers Alliance told the committee companies had sought clarity after determining the two states' statutory language diverged, and that the change would "ease compliance for national brands to be able to be in alignment with both California and Maryland."
Committee members asked whether the prior legislation (commonly referred to in testimony as "Rudy's law") had changed testing obligations. Witnesses replied the underlying testing and data remain the same; the bill only changes the term used on labels to match national practice, while preserving language that explains the specific elements discussed.
Ending: Committee concluded the hearing with no vote. The sponsor left the statutory description of "toxic heavy metals" elsewhere in the bill so the labeling clause can read "toxic elements" without losing clarity about the underlying contaminants.
