Californians who have a sweet tooth could soon be out of luck in the Golden State.
A new bill introduced into the State Assembly would ban Skittles and other popular candy in their current state.
The big picture: Assembly Bill 418 would ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of any foods that contain certain specified chemicals that are considered harmful and toxic.
- The bill would ban brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 and titanium dioxide.
- Those chemicals exist in Skittles, Nerds and Starburst, as well as other candy and chocolate.
Driving the news: Asm. Jesse Gabriel (D–Woodland Hills) introduced AB 418 along with Asm. Buffy Wicks (D–Oakland) in February.
- AB 418 passed through the Assembly Health Committee earlier this week on a 12-1 vote, with Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong casting the lone vote in dissent.
- The bill has been referred to the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials for a hearing next week.
What they’re saying: Gabriel said when he introduced the bill that the chemicals AB 418 would ban are significant public health harms and increase the risk of cancer, behavioral issues in children, harm the reproductive system and cause damage to the immune system.
- “Californians shouldn’t have to worry that the food they buy in their neighborhood grocery store might be full of dangerous additives or toxic chemicals,” Gabriel said in a statement. “This bill will correct for a concerning lack of federal oversight and help protect our kids, public health, and the safety of our food supply.”
