Stellar Snippets
Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a bill on Saturday, prohibiting four widely-used food additives within the state, including the red dye no. 3.
Already banned in the European Union, the dye is present in products designed for children such as Skittles and PediaSure.
The law bans food products with the dye and three other additives known as potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben.
Gov Newsom emphasized that companies like Skittles operate in countries with bans on the red food dye, showing that compliance with the safety law is achievable without issues.
Consumer Reports joined forces with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group in cosponsoring the bill, as Red dye no. 3, tied to thyroid cancer, was banned in U.S. cosmetics in 1990.
Potassium bromate, banned due to its potential as a carcinogen, is a dough improver and maturing agent, and it's also prohibited in the European Union, India, and China,
Brominated vegetable oil is prohibited under this bill. It's used in some beverages to prevent the separation of citrus flavoring and is banned in the European Union.
Newsom emphasized, "this bill's implementation is delayed until 2027 — significant time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals.”