California Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Assembly Bill 418, Banning Some Food Additives in the State

A statement issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed that he has signed California Assembly Bill 418. This bill will prohibit the sale of food and beverage products containing four food additives that have been linked to adverse health issues. These food additives are red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben. A ban on an additional fifth additive, titanium dioxide, was removed from the bill due to a lack of bipartisan Support. The ban on the sale of food and drink containing these additives will take effect in the year 2027, giving companies time to find suitable alternatives.

Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles/YouTube

These four food additives are already prohibited in the European Union. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not prohibit them. The passage of this bill represents the first time that a state has enacted a ban on food additives that the FDA deems safe. 

Red dye No. 3 has already come under significant fire for its potential link to cancer, thyroid disease, and other health issues. The FDA banned the use of this colorant in cosmetics and other externally applied products in 1990. However, it continues to be used in food and drink products to obtain a red hue. 

The other three food additives have also been linked to a variety of health concerns. Research has linked brominated vegetable oil to issues with behavior and reproduction in rats. Potassium bromate may cause cancer.  Propylparaben may be a hormone disruptor according to some studies. 

Newsom cites “Californians trust that the food products they consume are safe” as one of the reasons for signing Assembly Bill 418 into effect. One of the legislators who introduced the bill, Jesse Gabriel, also says that foods containing these additives are disproportionately sold in poor and marginalized communities. The effects of this Bill will not take effect until 2027. This gives food and drink producers adequate amounts of time to remove these food additives from their products. The passage of Assembly Bill 418 is expected to have far-reaching effects. In a statement from Newsom, he stated that “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.” At this time, the FDA still considers all four of these food additives to be safe. 

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