Senate Ag and Food Committee advances bill tightening food advertising aimed at children

At the New York State Senate Agriculture and Food Committee’s first meeting of the 2025 session, members advanced Senate Bill 397, sponsored by Senator Myrie, a measure to amend the General Business Law, the Agriculture and Markets Law and the Public Health Law to impose tighter rules on food and food product advertising directed at children and to establish related education programming.

The bill’s sponsor described the proposal as targeting marketing practices directed at children and said the measure is intended to reduce promotion of less nutritious products to young people while promoting locally grown foods. Senator Myrie said the changes would not ban food types but would “put some tighter parameters on how we market” to children.

The committee discussed industry and labeling concerns. Senator Brown said the bill had improved from its original version, “particularly removing the private right of action,” but added, “I’m still a no on this bill.” Another member raised worries about ingredient naming and public perception, warning that scientific ingredient names can be misunderstood by consumers.

Committee counsel responded to questions about education in the bill, pointing senators to section 4. “If you draw your attention to section 4, there is a program that will be administered that will educate children on, you know, the risks of obesity and diet and promote locally grown foods,” the staff member said.

After discussion, the committee moved the bill on a motion by Senator Brooks, seconded by Senator Fernandez. The clerk recorded the bill as referred to the Consumer Protection Committee for further consideration.

Why it matters: supporters framed the measure as protecting children from targeted marketing of ultraprocessed products and as a way to encourage New York-grown foods; opponents urged pairing marketing limits with clear public education to avoid misleading consumers about ingredients.

Next steps: SB397 was referred to the Consumer Protection Committee for further review and amendment as needed.