The Utah House passed first substitute House Bill 84, Vaccine Amendments, on a 73-0 vote after a floor discussion about the scope and examples of foods used to deliver vaccines.

Representative Lee, the bill sponsor, told the House the bill would require that any substance intentionally designed to deliver vaccines through food for human consumption must be labeled and regulated as a drug rather than as food. “If what is trying to be administered to us is vaccines through our food, they need to label that as a drug,” Lee said, adding the language is intentionally forward-looking: “We don't have any cases of it yet in Utah that we see in the grocery store.”

Representative Carol Moss asked for examples; Lee cited legislation from another state that had been dubbed the “lettuce bill,” saying researchers have tested ways to deliver vaccines via lettuce. Lee said the bill covers only human food and not animal feed.

Representative Daley Provo, who said she began skeptical, said she reviewed medical research and supports the bill as a preemptive transparency measure: she told the House she hopes the policy would allow people “to opt for getting a vaccine should we want to, that it's appropriately labeled and that we're able to access that in a safe way.”

Representative Hawkins asked whether the bill is limited to specific vaccines; Lee replied it applies to “any vaccine that is for human consumption.” The sponsor and multiple representatives thanked stakeholders for input and waived summation; the bill passed 73-0 and was sent to the Senate.

Votes at a glance: First substitute HB 84 (Vaccine amendments) — Final passage: 73 yes, 0 no.

Supporters said the bill aims to preserve regulatory clarity and consumer transparency should vaccine-delivery-in-food technologies become commercially available.