California has become the first state in the United States to prohibit four food additives that are found in several sodas, candies, cereals, and drinks across the nation. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Food Safety Act on Saturday, October 7, 2023 — which puts a ban on them.
The signed act halts the manufacture, sale, and/or distribution of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3. These are chemicals found in popular foods and snacks like Skittles, Starburst, Peeps, several baked goods, and store-brand sodas just to name a few.
According to Consumer Reports, these additives have been linked to serious health issues, such as an increased risk of cancer, heart and liver problems, as well as developmental harm and reproductive issues.
“Californians trust that the food products they consume are safe,” Governor Newson said in a statement. “The additives addressed in this bill are already banned in various other countries. Signing this into law is a positive step forward on these four food additives until the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews and establishes national updated safety levels for these additives.”
If you’re afraid of losing your favorite snacks, don’t worry. This law will take effect on January 1, 2027 — allowing adequate time for companies to reformulate their recipes to avoid these chemicals, according to the statement. Brands and companies who violate this law will face fines of up to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.
To read more about the California Food Safety Act, visit here. You can also read Governor Newsom’s statement in full, here.