Titanium dioxide has been removed from the list of chemicals that would be banned as food additives under California Assembly Bill 418, which was recently named the California Food Safety Act.
A bill proposed in the New York Senate seeks to ban the use of five “five of the most pervasive and harmful food additives” in the state: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propyl parabens, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide.
On May 15, 2023, the California State Assembly passed first-of-its-kind legislation that would prohibit the use of certain dangerous and toxic chemicals in processed foods and drinks. Assembly Bill (AB) 418 would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any food product in California containing red dye 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben.
California Assembly Bill 418 would place a statewide ban on the sale of processed foods containing red dye 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben, due to possible associated negative human health consequences.
Consumer groups are calling for the use of erythrosine—also known as red dye 3—in foods to be banned, pointing to studies suggesting the food coloring’s carcinogenicity and children’s heightened exposure to the coloring.
