California’s State Assembly passed Bill AB-418 to ban five toxic chemicals commonly found in U.S. candies and other processed foods. The ingredients, linked to cancer and developmental issues in children – brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 and titanium dioxide – are already banned in the European Union.
Introduced by Democratic State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks at the beginning of February, the legislation would prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain any of the five harmful ingredients.
AB-418 passed on the Assembly Floor with a vote of 54 Ayes, 12 Noes, and 14 No Vote Received.
As reported by Common Dreams: “We don’t love our children any less than they do in Europe, and it’s not too much to ask food and beverage manufacturers to switch to the safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other nations around the globe,” said Gabriel, who chairs the state Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. The five chemicals banned under AB-418 are:
- Brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some sodas and other beverages and has been linked to neurological symptoms
- Potassium bromate, which is used in some flour and found in many packaged bread products, and has been found to cause cancer in lab animals’ thyroids, kidneys, and other organs
- Propylparaben, an antifungal agent used in cosmetics as well as foods which has been found to have developmental and reproductive toxicity
- Red dye 3, a food coloring that’s been linked to cancers in lab animals
- Titanium dioxide, which is used in some food products to make them appear bright white and has been linked to DNA damage and cancer
If AB-418 clears the California Senate and is signed by the governor, candies and processed foods such as Skittles, Peeps, and many others would be banned in the state unless they are reformulated.
Big Food is lobbying hard to prevent this important legislation from passing, fearing that other states will follow California’s lead.
Help Pass AB-418 for a Safer Food System!
Californians, step up and send an email to your state Senators. TAKE ACTION HERE.
If you’re outside California but have family or friends in the state, please share this blog and ask them to take action. Ask them to take action. We all know the saying: “As California goes, so goes the nation.” A safe California food system means a safer food system for all!
Leave a Reply