Bill · H.R. 8412· House(119-HR-8412)
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to revise certain regulations related to infant and toddler beverages, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 4/21/2026
- Last activity
- 4/21/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Sara Jacobs
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to revise specific regulations regarding beverages for infants and toddlers. It seeks to prohibit beverages intended for children older than 12 months from being labeled as "infant formula" or using the term "formula." The bill also requires milk-based and nondairy-based beverages for children aged 12 to 36 months to use more descriptive names. Additionally, these products must include qualifying terms if they contain added sugars, sweeteners, or flavorings. The regulations also mandate specific disclaimers regarding consumption for infants and children under 24 months. Finally, the bill sets a timeline for issuing, finalizing, and applying these new regulations.
Yes· 3 of 5
Would children be better off under this?+7
The bill protects children by requiring warnings against consuming certain beverages with added sugars under certain ages.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+6
The bill requires clearer product naming and specific disclaimers to prevent consumers from being misled about the nutritional content of beverages for young children.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+4
The bill mandates more descriptive and transparent labeling requirements for specific beverage categories.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Clearer Labeling for Consumers: The bill requires beverages intended for children 12 to 36 months to use descriptive names like "milk-based drink" or "soy-based drink powder" rather than "formula," which provides more accurate information to parents (Section 1(a)(1) and Section 1(a)(2)(A)(i) and (B)(i)).
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Transparency Regarding Ingredients: If a beverage contains added sugars, nonnutritive sweeteners, or flavorings, the name must include terms like "sweetened" or "flavored," allowing people to know exactly what they are buying (Section 1(a)(2)(A)(ii) and (B)(ii)).
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Safety Warnings and Nutritional Guidance: The bill mandates disclaimers that caution against serving these beverages to infants under 12 months and notes that they are not recommended for children 12 to 24 months of age due to added sugars (Section 1(a)(2)(C)(i)).
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Prevention of Misleading Intake Claims: The new regulations would prevent companies from including statements that suggest a recommended daily intake, such as "one cup a day" (Section 1(a)(2)(C)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text of the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+7Good For Low Income Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+3
- 4/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House