Red candies.Photo:Mark Carper / Alamy Stock PhotoCalifornia’sGovernor Gavin Newsomsigned a bill Saturday making four popular food additives illegal in the state — including the controversial red dye no. 3, which is already banned in the European Union.The dye is found in Skittles, PediaSure, and other products aimed at children — as well as non-red foods, like mashed potatoes and rice — according to theCenter for Science in the Public Interest.It is now banned under the newCalifornia Food Safety Act. The law prohibits the production, sale or distribution of food products that contain the dye and three other popular additives: potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben.In aletter about the bill, Gov. Newsom highlighted how Skittles is able to be sold in the European Union with ingredients that adhere to their ban, writing, “There have been many misconceptions about this bill and its impacts. For example, attached to this message is a bag of the popular candy “Skittles,” which became the face of this proposal. This particular bag of candy comes from the European Union — a place that already bans a number of chemical additives and colorants. This is demonstrable proof that the food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, country-to-country.”Many popular candies in the U.S. feature red food dye.GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Red dye no. 3 has beenlinked to thyroid cancer, and in 1990, was banned for use in cosmetics in the United States, according toConsumer Reports, which cosponsored the bill along with the nonprofitEnvironmental Working Group.“The FDA says it isn’t safe enough to put it on our cheeks, but it’s okay to put it in our mouths?” Lisa Lefferts, a scientist and consultant to Center for Science in the Public Interest, told theWashington Post.Potassium bromate, which is also banned, is “an excellent dough improver and a maturing agent,” theNational Institute of Healthsays. However, it’s a “possible carcinogen.” It’s also banned in the European Union, India, and China,CBS Newsnotes.Brominated vegetable oilis also banned under the bill; It’s added to some beverages to keep citrus flavoring from separating, and is banned in theEuropean Union.Propylparabens are used forantimicrobial food preservation, but theEnvironmental Working Groupsays it mimics estrogen and can disrupt the endocrine system.While theNational Confectioners Associationdecried the bill in a statement, calling it a “slippery slope” that can “create confusion around food safety” and “increase food costs,” in his letter, Newsom pointed out that “this bill’s implementation is delayed until 2027 — significant time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals.”
Red candies.Photo:Mark Carper / Alamy Stock Photo
Mark Carper / Alamy Stock Photo
California’sGovernor Gavin Newsomsigned a bill Saturday making four popular food additives illegal in the state — including the controversial red dye no. 3, which is already banned in the European Union.The dye is found in Skittles, PediaSure, and other products aimed at children — as well as non-red foods, like mashed potatoes and rice — according to theCenter for Science in the Public Interest.It is now banned under the newCalifornia Food Safety Act. The law prohibits the production, sale or distribution of food products that contain the dye and three other popular additives: potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben.In aletter about the bill, Gov. Newsom highlighted how Skittles is able to be sold in the European Union with ingredients that adhere to their ban, writing, “There have been many misconceptions about this bill and its impacts. For example, attached to this message is a bag of the popular candy “Skittles,” which became the face of this proposal. This particular bag of candy comes from the European Union — a place that already bans a number of chemical additives and colorants. This is demonstrable proof that the food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, country-to-country.”Many popular candies in the U.S. feature red food dye.GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Red dye no. 3 has beenlinked to thyroid cancer, and in 1990, was banned for use in cosmetics in the United States, according toConsumer Reports, which cosponsored the bill along with the nonprofitEnvironmental Working Group.“The FDA says it isn’t safe enough to put it on our cheeks, but it’s okay to put it in our mouths?” Lisa Lefferts, a scientist and consultant to Center for Science in the Public Interest, told theWashington Post.Potassium bromate, which is also banned, is “an excellent dough improver and a maturing agent,” theNational Institute of Healthsays. However, it’s a “possible carcinogen.” It’s also banned in the European Union, India, and China,CBS Newsnotes.Brominated vegetable oilis also banned under the bill; It’s added to some beverages to keep citrus flavoring from separating, and is banned in theEuropean Union.Propylparabens are used forantimicrobial food preservation, but theEnvironmental Working Groupsays it mimics estrogen and can disrupt the endocrine system.While theNational Confectioners Associationdecried the bill in a statement, calling it a “slippery slope” that can “create confusion around food safety” and “increase food costs,” in his letter, Newsom pointed out that “this bill’s implementation is delayed until 2027 — significant time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals.”
California’sGovernor Gavin Newsomsigned a bill Saturday making four popular food additives illegal in the state — including the controversial red dye no. 3, which is already banned in the European Union.
The dye is found in Skittles, PediaSure, and other products aimed at children — as well as non-red foods, like mashed potatoes and rice — according to theCenter for Science in the Public Interest.
It is now banned under the newCalifornia Food Safety Act. The law prohibits the production, sale or distribution of food products that contain the dye and three other popular additives: potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben.
In aletter about the bill, Gov. Newsom highlighted how Skittles is able to be sold in the European Union with ingredients that adhere to their ban, writing, “There have been many misconceptions about this bill and its impacts. For example, attached to this message is a bag of the popular candy “Skittles,” which became the face of this proposal. This particular bag of candy comes from the European Union — a place that already bans a number of chemical additives and colorants. This is demonstrable proof that the food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, country-to-country.”
Many popular candies in the U.S. feature red food dye.Getty
Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Red dye no. 3 has beenlinked to thyroid cancer, and in 1990, was banned for use in cosmetics in the United States, according toConsumer Reports, which cosponsored the bill along with the nonprofitEnvironmental Working Group.
“The FDA says it isn’t safe enough to put it on our cheeks, but it’s okay to put it in our mouths?” Lisa Lefferts, a scientist and consultant to Center for Science in the Public Interest, told theWashington Post.
Potassium bromate, which is also banned, is “an excellent dough improver and a maturing agent,” theNational Institute of Healthsays. However, it’s a “possible carcinogen.” It’s also banned in the European Union, India, and China,CBS Newsnotes.
Brominated vegetable oilis also banned under the bill; It’s added to some beverages to keep citrus flavoring from separating, and is banned in theEuropean Union.
Propylparabens are used forantimicrobial food preservation, but theEnvironmental Working Groupsays it mimics estrogen and can disrupt the endocrine system.
While theNational Confectioners Associationdecried the bill in a statement, calling it a “slippery slope” that can “create confusion around food safety” and “increase food costs,” in his letter, Newsom pointed out that “this bill’s implementation is delayed until 2027 — significant time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals.”
source: people.com
