Pennsylvania is making bold strides to transform its food system with the Healthy PA legislative package—a sweeping set of bills designed to protect public health, increase transparency in the food supply and support farmers transitioning to regenerative practices. As a national leader in organic agriculture, Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to lead this charge. Rodale Institute was honored to testify in support of this groundbreaking legislation.

Testifying for a Healthier Pennsylvania

In May, Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Tkach joined a panel of public health advocates, physicians and policy experts to speak before the Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection Committee. His testimony highlighted the urgent need to align agriculture, nutrition and public health—and outlined how regenerative organic farming can serve as a powerful solution to the chronic disease crisis facing Pennsylvania and the nation.

What the Legislation Covers

The Healthy PA package tackles key areas of concern through a comprehensive legislative framework that addresses food safety, environmental health and community wellness. These bills include:

Food Chemical Disclosure: The “Show Us Your Science Act” requires companies to disclose safety data about chemicals used in food production, increasing transparency and accountability around potentially toxic ingredients.

Bans on Harmful Additives: Several bills focus on removing or labeling harmful substances in foods. The Healthy Students Act prohibits the sale of products containing artificial dyes in public schools, responding to research linking these additives to behavioral issues and developmental concerns. Additional legislation mandates warning labels for butylated hydroxyanisole, a preservative considered a possible carcinogen, and artificial dyes, empowering parents and consumers to make informed choices.

Defining Ultra-Processed Foods: The package establishes a clear, science-based legal definition of ultra-processed foods within the state agriculture code.

Herbicide Regulation: Most notably, the package includes a ban on paraquat, a widely used, highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease and childhood leukemia.

Supporting Regenerative Agriculture:  Recognizing the critical role of soil health, the package introduces a Cover Crop Incentive Program offering grants to farmers that adopt cover cropping practices.

Community Wellness: The legislation also designates August as Pennsylvania Wellness Month, aiming to raise awareness of health and well-being across communities.

Calling Out the Root Causes

State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, who authored the package, unveiled a “$5 trillion tree” diagram at the press conference following the hearing to illustrate the urgent public health challenge. She encouraged Pennsylvanians to “think of our collective health like a tree, with chronic diseases for branches and at the root of that tree we have metabolic dysfunction. Toxic chemicals from our food are constantly attacking the root. We spend $5 trillion every year treating the branches and absolutely nothing fighting back against what is attacking our roots. It’s time to change that.”

In his testimony, Tkach emphasized that “healthy soil contributes to healthy gut microbiomes in humans,” connecting regenerative farming practices to real, measurable health outcomes. He cited research linking exposure to chemicals like glyphosate and atrazine—commonly used in conventional farming—to endocrine disruption, cancer and immune dysfunction. “Four times more glyphosate is detected in children than adults,” he noted, underscoring the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.

“Pennsylvania ranks third in the U.S. in organic sales, with more than 1,100 certified organic farms and 115,000 acres of organic farmland,” said Tkach. “This gives our state a unique leadership opportunity to not only protect public health, but to scale regenerative organic practices that benefit farmers, ecosystems and communities alike.”

A United Front for Change

Tkach was joined at the hearing by a diverse coalition of changemakers supporting the legislative package. Dr. Meagan Grega, physician and co-founder of the Kellyn Foundation, spoke on food additives’ effects on child health. Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, addressed gaps in chemical policy. Tom Neltner, co-founder of Unleaded Kids, focused on childhood toxic exposure prevention. And Meg Ringler, from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, shared personal insights on Parkinson’s disease and it links to paraquat.

Why This Moment Matters

The Healthy PA package represents a bold vision for food, farming and public health in Pennsylvania. Grega noted, “The food we choose to eat and the beverages we drink are one of the most potent epigenetic levers we can manipulate to either improve or damage our long-term health and vitality.” She also highlighted that Pennsylvania ranked 28th overall among states in America’s Health Rankings 2023 and 35th for multiple chronic conditions in its population.

She referenced a recent American Journal of Preventive Medicine article estimating that ultra-processed food consumption contributes to nearly 124,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S., underscoring the urgency for action.

Tkach concluded, “This legislation symbolizes a remarkable shift by the state to ensure consumers are informed and protected—and that our farmers are supported in cultivating solutions that nourish both people and the planet.”

Rodale Institute encourages all Pennsylvanians to support the legislative package and help cultivate a regenerative future—one where soil health is public health and every family has access to clean, safe and nourishing food.

Nadine Clopton is the regenerative education program manager at Rodale Institute. For more information, visit bit.ly/43YjYCs or RodaleInstitute.org.