California and New York lawmakers have proposed bills to ban five toxic chemical food additives linked to cancer and behavioral and developmental issues in children.
The bill was approved, then amended by the California State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials on April 13 and will move to the Appropriations Committee next.
If the bills pass, manufacturers will be forced to change their recipes in popular foods like Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, cake frostings, and some Campbell’s soup products to comply with new standards or face penalties of up to $5000 for a first violation and $10,000 if repeated.
“There is no realistic chance that this bill will result in Skittles or any other product being pulled off the shelf. The idea here is for these companies to make minor modifications to their recipes so that these products no longer include dangerous and toxic chemicals.
The five targeted chemical food additives are prohibited from being used in processed foods throughout the European Union, except for Red Dye No. 3, which is still in candied cherries. However, despite studies linking these five additives to serious health concerns, they have not yet been banned in the United States and can be found in thousands of processed foods.
What Are the 5 Chemical Additives?
Red Dye No. 3
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red Dye No. 3 from cosmetics and externally applied drugs in 1990 after a study found that the dye caused animal cancer. Yet it was never banned in food products and remains an ingredient in over 2900 foods in the United States, including candy, snack cakes, fruit cocktail cherries, sugary drinks, bacon bits, and medications.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a mineral regularly found in our environment and utilized as a whitening agent in various products, including common household products, industrial products, and cosmetics. It has been deemed to be safe as a food color additive by the FDA.
Food manufacturers use titanium dioxide’s whitening properties to maintain the brightness in white foods like whipped cream, milk, and mozzarella cheese. Because it doesn’t discolor or break down easily, it helps increase the shelf life of many foods.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
Derived from corn and soybean oils, brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is used in citrus-flavored sodas and other drinks to help keep oil-based citrus flavoring and water well-blended. It was initially approved in small amounts by the FDA in 1977, pending further studies. However, those studies were either never done or were not reported on.
Potassium Bromate
The additive potassium bromate is an inexpensive dough improver that strengthens bread dough, helps it rise, and improves the overall baking effect.
Propylparaben
Propylparaben is a preservative used in cosmetics, an antifungal and antimicrobial agent, and is used as a food additive and preservative. Several studies have confirmed the chemical’s effect on the endocrine system by altering hormone signaling and gene expression. Yet it is used in more than 50 food products, including packaged corn tortillas, baked desserts, and cake icing.
Despite mounting evidence, the FDA still regards propylparaben as safe and has not taken action to remove or reassess its safety.
‘Dirty Dozen’ Guide to Food Chemicals
The EWG provides a “Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals“ describing the chemicals, the foods that contain them, and why they should be avoided. Some are direct additives while others are indirect, meaning they can get into food during processing, storage, or packaging. The full list includes the five chemicals California and New York are attempting to ban, in addition to the following:
- Nitrates and nitrites—preservatives used in cured meats
- BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)—preservative used in cured meats and other foods
- BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)—preservative found in cereals and other foods
- TBHQ (tert-butyl hydroquinone)—preservative used in Pop-Tarts and other processed foods
- PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl)—“forever chemical” used in food packaging that can leach into the food
- Artificial sweeteners—can negatively affect hormones and weight control
- Heavy metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic found at dangerous levels in some baby foods
How to Avoid Harmful Food Additives
According to the EWG, many food manufacturers have stopped using some potentially harmful additives, and some stores have stopped selling the foods that contain them. Although these chemicals can be replaced with alternative ingredients, they are often more expensive, thus less attractive to manufacturers.
If these bills are passed, it may be more cost-effective for food manufacturers to change their ingredients altogether rather than on a state-by-state basis.
In the meantime, certified nutritionist Katie Hall has some practical advice. “To avoid these additives, consumers can opt for whole, unprocessed foods and read ingredient labels carefully. Additionally, choosing organic products, and cooking meals at home can help limit exposure to potentially harmful additives,” she told The Epoch Times.