A bill signed into effect by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday has made the Golden State the first in the nation to ban four FDA-approved food additives linked to health problems. The California Food Safety Act, pejoratively called “the Skittles Ban,” will prohibit the sale of products containing brominated vegetable oil, propylparaben, potassium bromate, and red dye no. 3, requiring a number of popular food brands to alter their ingredients.
Crime is through the roof, worst drug epidemic ever & homelessness at an all time high in CA… Let’s focus on Skittles pic.twitter.com/ohWQcUcQjf
The four substances targeted by California Assembly Bill 418, otherwise known as the Food Safety Act, are all illegal in the European Union but have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and can be found in popular foods and beverages.
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Brominated vegetable oil is a common ingredient found in sodas and citrus drinks. Potassium bromate is used as a flour additive in baked goods. Propylparaben functions as a preservative in foods and cosmetic items. Red dye no. 3, which adds artificial coloring to candies and medicines, has notably been banned in cosmetics for more than 30 years in the US.
The side effects of these substances are as extensive as their uses, including increased cancer risks, nervous system damage, disruption of the endocrine system, reproductive issues, behavioral problems and hyperactivity in children.
When Assembly Bill 418 was first introduced in February by Democrats Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks, critics of the legislation labeled it the “Skittles Ban” for its inclusion of titanium dioxide, a coloring agent found in Skittles, Starbursts, Sour Patch Kids, and other candies. However, the bill was amended in September to remove the ban on the compound, meaning that Skittles will be wholly unaffected by the passage of the legislation.
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But despite confusion among alarmists, the bill will affect an estimated 12,000 products, including marshmallow Peeps and other snacks and candies, along with various kinds of bread, cake mix, instant rice, protein shakes, and potato products.
Assemblyman Gabriel called the passing of the Food Safety Act “a positive step forward…until the United States Food and Drug Administration reviews and establishes national updated safety levels for these additives.” However, he further clarified that “this bill will not ban any foods or products — it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other places around the globe.”
The legislation will also not go into effect until January 1, 2027, which Governor Newsom described as “significant time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals.”
In response to the signing, the National Confectioners Association, a trade organization and lobbying group representing candy makers, stated that “Newsom’s approval of this bill will undermine consumer confidence and create confusion around food safety” by undermining the FDA’s policies. The NCA also raised concerns about increasing food costs stemming from the altered product formulas.
Given the massive size of California’s economy, a Consumer Reports news release suggests that any changes made to certain products will be mirrored around the country, meaning residents of other states will see effects as well.
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