Overview

The California Safer Food Packaging Act of 2025 (AB 1148), authored by Assemblymember Dr LaShae Sharp-Collins, prohibits companies from manufacturing, distributing, or selling in California any food or beverage packaging that contains the following intentionally added harmful chemicals:

• The class of Bisphenols except tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF);
• The entire class of Ortho-phthalates

These chemicals have been found in food and beverage packaged in materials like cans, foil, pouches, and other packaging types, and include milk and dairy products, meat and seafood, prepared meals, fruits and vegetables, baby food, and fast food.

Bisphenols are a group of chemicals that are linked to a wide variety of health harms, including hormone disruption, reproductive problems in women and men, breast cancer, metabolic problems including obesity and diabetes, immune system inflammation linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, behavioral effects, and reduced learning and memory. [1] New scientific analysis has shown that BPA can have harmful effects at levels much lower than previously thought, and other bisphenols also show endocrine disrupting effects. Residents in the US are likely exposed to a level that is 1000 higher than what the European Food Safety Authority deems safe, which banned BPA in December 2024 and other harmful bisphenols in food packaging materials.

Ortho-phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to breast cancer, developmental issues such as attention deficit disorder, decreased fertility, obesity, and asthma. Phthlates are used make plastics soft and flexible. BCPP has worked to ban phthalates in children’s toys at the federal level in 2008 and just last year passed the California Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act to ban the phthalate DEHP from IV bags and tubing, and prohibited its replacement with any other phthalates. 

Testing by Consumer Reports in early 2024 found bisphenols and phthalates in almost every food they tested, often at high levels.[2] Bisphenols and phthalates have been found in a variety of food products including cooking oils and have also been found in PET plastics, which are commonly used for beverage bottles and other food containers.[3]

The Safer Food Packaging Act of 2025 bill bans intentionally added bisphenols, and ortho-phthalates from packages, packaging components, or food service ware for containing, serving, storing, handling, protecting, or marketing food, foodstuffs, or beverages; and includes food or beverage containers, take-out food containers, unit product boxes, liners, wrappers, serving vessels, eating utensils, straws, food boxes, and disposable plates, bowls, or trays.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control can also set standards that are more protective of public health, sensitive populations or the environment, for the use of bisphenols and ortho-phthalates. 

DTSC can also restrict the use of TMBPF if new scientific evidence shows that the compound is not as safe as currently understood.

The bill can be enforced by the California Attorney General or local district attorneys, should these chemicals be found in food packaging.

BCPP is co-sponsoring this legislation with the Environmental Working Group and CalPIRG.

Contact

Nancy Buermeyer, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners Director of Program & Policy

Co-Sponsoring Organizations:

• CalPIRG
• Environmental Working Group EWG 

Supporting Organizations:

• Active San Gabriel  
• Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments 
• American College of OB/GYN’s District IX 
• Black Women for Wellness Action Project 
• Breast Cancer Over Time 
• California Black Health Network 
• California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice  
• Center for Environmental Health 
• Clean Water Action  
• ClientEarth4Kids 
• Climate Action California 
• Consumer Reports 
• Defend Our Health 
• FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety 
• Friends of the Earth 
• Green Science Policy Institute 
• Just Transition Alliance 
• Latino Coalition for a Healthy California 
• National Stewardship Action Council 
• Natural Resources Defense Council 
• Non-Toxic Neighborhoods 
• Physicians for Social Responsibility San Francisco Bay 
• Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority 
• San Francisco Baykeeper 
• Save the Bay 
• Sierra Club California 
• The Last Beach Cleanup 
• 7th Generation Advisors