STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2021

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2570

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2570 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require a warning label for all food products containing aspartame that are offered for sale or distribution in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Babes Against Biotech and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Ajinomoto North America, Inc.; American Beverage Association; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Calorie Control Council.

     Your Committee finds that consuming high levels of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, has been associated with serious health ailments, including diabetes, headaches, vision deficiencies, high blood pressure, heart disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and tumors.  This measure will help individuals make informed decisions when purchasing food products containing aspartame.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2570 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair