A California Assemblyman proposed a bill, AB418, that aims to ban certain chemicals, including titanium dioxide and red dye No. 3, found in food products in the state. Gabriel cited a recently-passed EU law that bans certain additives from products sold in Europe and expressed surprise at how far behind the US is in this area. A coalition of food industry groups has pushed back against the bill, stating that the US federal government already has a “comprehensive food safety process” in place and that the additives in question have been thoroughly reviewed by federal and state systems and deemed safe. Despite this, Gabriel believes that passing the bill would benefit not only Californians but also families in other states. He thinks that manufacturers would make changes that benefit all consumers, not just those in California.
Lawmaker proposes a bill to ban chemicals in food products in California
California Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel proposed AB418 to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain chemicals found in food products in the state, including titanium dioxide, red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and brominated vegetable oil. He stated that the goal of the bill is not to remove items from shelves but to encourage manufacturers to adjust their formulas and remove toxic chemicals from their products.
Gabriel cited a recently-passed EU law that bans certain additives from products sold in Europe and expressed surprise at how far behind the US is in this area. Titanium dioxide, one of the chemicals on the list, is commonly used to give colors a brighter appearance and is found in paints, plastics, and adhesives. It has been associated with alterations to DNA and digestive tract issues.
If passed, AB418 would bring California in line with other parts of the world in regulating potentially harmful chemicals in food products.
California Assemblyman proposes banning chemicals found in food products
California Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel proposed AB418, a bill that aims to prohibit the sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain chemicals found in food products, including titanium dioxide, red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and brominated vegetable oil. Gabriel said he proposed the bill to protect children and consumers in California from potential health risks associated with these chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, developmental and behavioral issues in kids.
Mars Inc., the company that manufactures Skittles, promised to stop using titanium dioxide in 2016, but the chemical is still listed as an ingredient in Skittles and other popular candies, according to NBC. A California man filed a lawsuit against the company last July for continuing to use the chemical, putting consumer health at risk. However, the lawsuit has since been dismissed.
Red dye No. 3, another chemical on the list, has been linked to decreased attention in children, as reported by CNN. The FDA barred the dye from cosmetics in the 1990s but not food, according to a Texas television station KSAT-TV.
Gabriel said that other countries have banned these chemicals from food products, and he wants to bring California in line with these regulations. He cited a recently-passed EU law that bans certain additives from products sold in Europe.
Food industry groups are already pushing back against the bill, as reported by The Washington Post. Despite this, Gabriel said that he has received good feedback from parents about the bill. If passed, AB418 would regulate potentially harmful chemicals in food products, which could potentially lead to a healthier future for Californians.
Food industry groups push back against California bill
A coalition of food industry groups has pushed back against California Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel’s proposed bill, AB418, which aims to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain chemicals found in food products. The coalition wrote a letter to the chairman of the California Assembly committee on health, stating that the US federal government already has a “comprehensive food safety process” in place and that the additives in question have been thoroughly reviewed by federal and state systems and deemed safe.
However, Gabriel believes that passing the bill would benefit not only Californians but also families in other states. He thinks that manufacturers would make changes that benefit all consumers, not just those in California.
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