Bill Introduced in California Would Ban Five Toxic Chemicals Common in Processed Foods
California Assembly member Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat representing District 46, has introduced a bill to the state legislature that would ban the sale of processed foods in California containing red dye 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben. These substances have been linked to negative human health consequences such as increased risk of cancer, behavioral issues in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system.
The substances targeted in Assembly Bill (AB) 418 are currently banned in the EU due to scientific studies demonstrating their associated public health risks, yet are permitted for use in foods in the U.S.