California ‘Skittles Bill’–Step Toward Safer Foods

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California is the first state in the nation preparing to ban five food additives found in many processed foods and candies that have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer, and other health problems. Assembly Bill 418, which has been called the “Skittles Bill” because the ingredients are found in popular candies such as Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Hot Tamales, targets the use of red dye No 3, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben.

A reason for the ban, according to supporters of the bill, is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not adequately evaluated the safety of these ingredients and that there exists a loophole that is allowing “thousands of chemicals to enter the U.S. food system without proper safety reviews.” The bill was introduced by assembly members Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks, and co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports.

Although the California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 418 in May 2023, it must still pass the California Senate, and opposition to the bill has been heavy from many food industry groups, including the California Grocers Association, American Bakers Association, and the International Association of Color Manufacturers. However, dozens of health and consumer safety groups are supporting the bill, and if all the advocates are successful, the ingredients will be banned by 2027. In the meantime, proponents of the bill hope other states will follow suit. Already, lawmakers in New York and Illinois have taken steps to reevaluate food additives.

The 5 Additives to Be Banned

Assembly Bill 418 prohibits anyone or any entity from “manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale” food products for human consumption that contain any of the following five substances: