- A bill that could ban Skittles, among other foods, is underway in the California legislature.
- The proposed legislation would ban foods authorities say contain cancer-causing additives.
- Some of the listed additives, such as titanium dioxide, have already been banned in the EU.
A bill that would ban beloved candies like Skittles, as well as other foods that officials say contain certain chemical toxins, is making its way through the California legislature.
bill AB418, inserted in February by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, would ban the sale, manufacture and distribution of foods containing titanium dioxide, red dye 3, potassium bromate, propyl paraben and brominated vegetable oil, according to the text of the bill.
“Californians shouldn’t have to worry that the food they buy at their neighborhood grocery store may be full of dangerous additives or toxic chemicals,” Gabriel said in a statement. last month’s statement. “This bill will correct a troubling lack of federal oversight and help protect our children, public health and the safety of our food supply.”
On his official website, Skittles liza titanium dioxide as one of the ingredients.
By The Daily Mailthe additives titanium dioxide, potassium bromate and brominated vegetable oil are banned in the EU.
Titanium dioxide, for example, helps give colors a brighter appearance and is commonly used in mineral sunscreens, Insider previously. reported, and the ingredient is known to be toxic. The company that makes Skittles, Mars, Inc., fiance in 2016 to stop using it.
Last year, a California man filed a lawsuit v. Mars, Inc.arguing that his use of titanium dioxide You are putting the health of customers at risk.
Mars Inc. did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
In addition to Skittles, other products at risk include Campbell’s soup, Sour Patch Kids, PEZ candy and Sun Drop Soda, according to The Daily Mail. The outlet reported that if the bill goes into effect, companies will have to change their formula or products may not be sold in the state.
“We know they are harmful and that children are likely to consume more of these chemicals than adults,” Susan Little of the Environmental Working Group, a public health advocacy group, said in a statement. statement last month. “It doesn’t make sense that the same products that are being sold by food manufacturers in California are being sold in the EU without these toxic chemicals.”
