Could Skittles, Pez and Sour Patch Kids be pulled from shelves? ‘Toxic’ additive found in popular candies may be BANNED in California in WEEKS as bill lands on Gavin Newsom’s desk

A California bill that could ban or force the makers of Skittles and Pez to change their recipes has headed to the governor’s desk for signature.

The state Legislature voted Tuesday to ban the production, sale and distribution of four chemicals in foods linked to cancer, disease and mood problems.

The California bill – called AB418 – would end the use of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propyl paraben and red dye No. 3 in California’s food supply.

An earlier version of the bill also included another chemical – titanium dioxide – although it was removed.

Introduced by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, it passed a 33-3 vote in the Senate on Monday and a final procedural vote in the Assembly on Tuesday.

It is now on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until October 14 to sign or veto the bill.

If signed, it would go into effect on January 1, 2027 and impose fines of up to $10,000 for the sale, production or distribution of these chemicals in America’s most populous state.

Rep. Gabriel said, “Today’s bipartisan vote marks a huge step forward in our efforts to protect California children and families from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply.

“It is unacceptable that the US is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety.”

Gabriel, a father of three, told the General Assembly on Tuesday that the bill aimed to get “minor changes” to the recipes of sweets like skittles – rather than banning them completely.

“I just assumed there was someone in DC watching me,” he said.

‘Once I realized that that wasn’t actually the case – and that we were in a very different position from the rest of the world – it became clear to me that we had to do something about it.’

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in March, Gabriel added: “I love skittles. I love Wild Berry cones. I eat them all the time. I would vote against a bill to ban bowling.

“What we’re really trying to do is change their recipes.”

Studies show that Red No.3 – a food coloring found in many sweets – can cause cancer in laboratory animals in very high doses and has been linked to behavioral problems in children.

The US banned it from cosmetic products in the 1990s, but it is still in many food products still sold in the US.

A number of studies in 2016 found that it was in more than one in ten candies in the US and that more than 80 percent of children under the age of two had consumed it in the past two weeks.

Another soon-to-be-banned substance – brominated vegetable oil, made from plants and used for citrus flavors – is suggested to harm the body’s nervous system after long-term exposure.

It has also been linked to the development of chronic headaches, memory loss and imbalance. It was previously in the soft drink Mountain Dew until parent company Pepsi removed the ingredient in 2020.

Propylparaben, often used as a preservative in baked goods, has been linked to fertility problems in mice by disrupting estrogen in women and reducing sperm count in men.

Potassium bromate is also found in many baked goods, but has been linked to the development of thyroid and kidney cancer. It is often used in processed foods to help dough rise.

Industry stakeholders hit back at California’s ban in March, saying the bill prevailed because the additives’ safety was already assessed through a number of existing measures.

They included directors of the National Confectioners Association, California Grocers Association and the American Chemistry Council.

Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said: ‘Toxic chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer and other chronic health problems should not be allowed in our food.

“Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration has taken no action to protect the public, despite the well-documented risks these harmful chemicals pose to our health.

“We applaud state lawmakers for voting to ban these dangerous chemicals from food and urge Governor Newsom to sign this groundbreaking legislation into law.”