ORLANDO, FLA. — During the American Bakers Association (ABA) Convention, held March 22-26 in Orlando, Fla., the government relations team was on hand to answer members’ questions regarding the latest in policies affecting the commercial baking industry. 

At the state level, Bill Dumais, state affairs manager, ABA, is monitoring 72 bills across the country regarding ingredient bans and transparency around ingredients, many of them following the example of legislation in California. 

“We’re monitoring all of these, but it is constantly changing,” he said. 

To that point, one of the bills mentioned in West Virginia passed the next day. The bill bans foods containing most artificial food dyes — Blue Nos. 1 and 2, Green No. 3, Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Red Nos. 40 and 3 — and two preservatives — propylparaben and BHA. The law goes into effect broadly in 2028; however, it also will prohibit products containing these ingredients from being served in school meals starting on August 1,2025.

At the federal level, Thomas Bailey, director of government relations, ABA, noted three main issues impacting the baking industry: immigration, tax reform and tariffs. Within tax reform, he said, ABA is focused on six main priorities including continuing the current corporate tax rate of 0.1%, R&D expensing, interest deductibility and reducing or eliminating the estate tax.

A hot topic at ABA Convention was the status and impact of President Trump’s tariffs. However, Bailey said it’s still uncertain either how long tariffs will last or where they will ultimately fall for which countries. He noted that the Trump Administration is evaluating G-20 countries, looking for tariffs they’ve imposed on the United States, policies discouraging trade with the United States or if there exists a trade surplus. 

The ABA is gathering data on the impact current tariffs or proposed tariffs will have — or are having — on the commercial baking industry. The association estimates that tariffs could cost the baking industry at least $450 million a year, while current steel and aluminum tariffs could cost equipment suppliers $1 billion. 

Bailey urged members to participate and get involved with ABA to help tell the daily impact these policies are having on their businesses. ABA sent out a survey ahead of the convention to gain a better understanding of potential sourcing challenges and the effects tariffs will have. 

“That will help get a better understanding of how tariffs are affecting the commercial baking industry, and help us better represent you in Washington,” Bailey said. 

In the nutrition and regulatory space, Campbell Genn, senior director of government relations, ABA, said much is still unknown about what shape the Trump Administration’s agenda toward nutrition and regulations will take.

Both the SNAP program and GRAS process are areas to watch as recommendations have been made to limit foods available to SNAP program participants, including sweet baked goods. The GRAS process, or Generally Recognized Safe process the Food & Drug Administration uses for companies to self-attest that ingredients are safe, is under scrutiny. Legislation is currently being drafted to propose changes to this process, though Genn noted ABA is still waiting to see what those changes could be.