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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.
The California Senate also recently passed AB-418, but removed titanium dioxide from the list of banned chemicals. AB-418 must remain intact as passed by the State Assembly.
The legislation, passed by the State Assembly, would prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain any of the five harmful ingredients.
- 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
AB-418 would prevent candies and processed foods such as Skittles, Peeps, and many others to be sold in the state unless they are reformulated.
But lobbying by Big Food has caused the State Senate to water down the bill, removing titanium dioxide from the list of banned chemicals.
A scientific panel created by the European Food Safety Authority determined, “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body”. The panel concluded that titanium dioxide has the potential to damage DNA and cause chromosomal damage.
Tell your legislators that AB-418 must be passed as it was written by the State Assembly. Titanium dioxide is harmful and should not get a free pass.
Californians, step up and send an email to your state Senators and Representatives today.
If you’re outside California but have family or friends in the state, please share and 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!
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.
The California Senate also recently passed AB-418, but removed titanium dioxide from the list of banned chemicals. AB-418 must remain intact as passed by the State Assembly.
The legislation, passed by the State Assembly, would prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain any of the five harmful ingredients.
- 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
AB-418 would prevent candies and processed foods such as Skittles, Peeps, and many others to be sold in the state unless they are reformulated.
But lobbying by Big Food has caused the State Senate to water down the bill, removing titanium dioxide from the list of banned chemicals.
A scientific panel created by the European Food Safety Authority determined, “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body”. The panel concluded that titanium dioxide has the potential to damage DNA and cause chromosomal damage.
Tell your legislators that AB-418 must be passed as it was written by the State Assembly. Titanium dioxide is harmful and should not get a free pass.
Californians, step up and send an email to your state Senators and Representatives today.
If you’re outside California but have family or friends in the state, please share and 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!
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