California is moving closer to implementing a law that would forbid the inclusion of certain chemical-linked ingredients in food items such as Skittles, Hot Tamales, and others.
Assembly Bill 418, introduced by Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), received significant support in the California State Assembly and is now on its way to the State Senate, where it is expected to pass as well, according to staff members informed KTXL’s Eytan Wallace. Governor Gavin Newsom’s stance on signing the legislation remains unknown.
The bill aims to prohibit the production, sale, or distribution of products containing substances like red dye No. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben within the state of California.
Jesse Gabriel asserts that these chemicals, which are already banned in the European Union, have been associated with cancer, reproductive problems, and developmental issues in children.
california skittles banned
The proposed law aims to prohibit the inclusion of specific ingredients in food products, namely red dye No. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propyl paraben.
These additives, commonly found in various American candies, have already been banned in the European Union. Red dye No. 3, a food coloring present in PEZ, Hot Tamales, and Sweethearts, has been associated with cancer. Similarly, titanium dioxide, an ingredient in Skittles, Nerds, and Trolli gummies, has also been linked to cancer.
Jesse Gabriel, the proponent of the legislation, has clarified that the intention is not to outright ban these candies but rather to compel manufacturers to alter their recipes.
According to Gabriel’s office, the targeted food additives in AB 418 are just a small fraction of the thousands of chemicals added to food for preservation, flavor enhancement, and visual appeal. Most of these chemicals have not undergone evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and although some are deemed “generally recognized as safe,” there has been limited oversight.
Support for Assembly Bill 418 comes from the Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports.
