California lawmaker Jesse Gabriel proposes ban on Skittles

A new bill in the California legislature, Assembly Bill 418, introduced by Democrat Jesse Gabriel could bring about the first sales ban on Skittles and other confections that use food additives

Assembly Bill 418 aims to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of any foods containing the additives red dye no. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben.

Other than Skittles, brands being called out for additive use includes Just Born Quality Confections, the manufacturer of Peeps.

The additives listed in Assembly Bill 418 are currently classified as safe by the FDA. However, the European Food Safety Authority’s independent study revealed the additives’ risk to consumers, including asthma, cancer, memory loss, impaired coordination, and behavioral issues. The European Union banned the use of additives along with the import and use of any food products that use them.