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California Bans Food Additives

October 7, 2023 - from CalMatters.com:

"The 'California Food Safety Act would prohibit the sale of food products containing several additives that are outlawed in the European Union and are thought to be harmful to the health of people who eat them.

"The bill made headlines as “the Skittles ban” earlier this year because the original version of it would have prohibited a chemical used to add color to the popular candy. Lawmakers last month amended the bill to allow the sale of products with that chemical, although it still would ban chemicals that are commonly used in other sweets.

"Manufacturers have until Jan. 1, 2027 to reformulate their products and comply with California law. That could lead the companies to remove the additives from their products nationwide because of the size of California’s market.

"The law bans red dye 3, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate from all foods meant for human consumption.

"Red dye 3 is a common color additive found in candies and other food products. It was banned from cosmetic use more than 30 years ago by the Food and Drug Administration due to concerns about it being a carcinogen. It is still used in popular candies like Peeps, as well as other foods such as cookies and colored drinks, according to the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group.

"Propylparaben is a preservative used in baked goods like muffins and cakes, as well as in popular trail mixes.

"Brominated vegetable oil is added to popular citrus drinks to prevent the flavoring oils from floating on top. While many beverage companies stopped using it a while ago, brands like Sun Drop continue to use it in their citrus sodas, according to its parent beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper.

"Potassium bromate is a substance used to strengthen dough and can be found in all kinds of breads, cookies and tortillas. It has been banned in the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Brazil.

June 30, 2023 - from SFA:

"On June 28, the California Senate Committee on Health approved the first-in-the-nation bill to ban five harmful chemicals from candy, cereals, and other processed food.

"Assembly Bill 418, which has already passed California’s lower house, is getting close to a vote in the Senate that will put it on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law.

"Here’s what AB 418 does, according to the most recent staff analysis of the bill:

1. Prohibits, beginning on January 1, 2025, an entity from manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale a food product for human consumption that contains any of the following substances:
   1. Brominated vegetable oil;
   2. Potassium bromate;
   3. Propylparaben;
   4. Red dye 3; or,
   5. Titanium dioxide.
2. Prohibits the provisions of this bill from impairing or impeding any other rights, causes of action, claims, or defenses available under any other law and specifies that the remedies provided by this bill are cumulative with any other remedies available under any other law.

"Therefore, B 418 would end the use of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide in food products sold in California.

"The European Union has already banned the five substances from use in food, with a narrow exception of Red No. 3 in candied cherries. Given the size of California’s economy, AB 418 would set an important precedent for improving the safety of many processed foods.

"Requires an entity that violates 1) above to be liable, in an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney, for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for a first violation, and up to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

"The state Senate Environmental Quality Committee will next hear and vote on the bill and after that, it should see a vote on the Senate floor."

California May Ban Five Food Additives

April 11, 2023 - from SFA:

"California may become the first state to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of foods that contain chemicals linked to increased cancer risk, reproductive harm, and behavior issues, reports CBS News.

"The five chemicals are as follows: red dye number 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, bromated vegetable oil, and propylparaben. Titanium dioxide is used in many candies, including Skittles, and potassium bromate is used in some breads.

"These chemicals have already been banned in Europe, and potassium bromate has also been banned in China and India. Red dye number 3 has been banned in the U.S. for use in cosmetics." .