Starting from January 1, 2027, California will officially prohibit Skittles and other candies. This decision comes after Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill AB 418, also known as The California Food Safety Act.
The legislation specifically targets food items containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben, along with red dye 3, commonly found in Skittles and other sweets like PEZ, Hot Tamales, and Dubble Bubble gum.
As stated in The California Food Safety Act, it is prohibited to produce, sell, distribute, or offer for sale any food product meant for human consumption that contains the mentioned substances. Violation of these provisions may result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for subsequent violations, as per the bill.
Following the signing of the bill, Governor Newsom’s office released a statement addressing some misunderstandings surrounding it. They emphasized that the Skittles bag attached to the message came from the European Union, an area where several chemical additives and colorants are already banned. This serves as evidence that the food industry can adjust its product lines while adhering to varying public health regulations across different countries.
The National Confectioners Association, however, opposes the bill, contending that decisions are being made based on catchphrases rather than scientific evidence. They argue that Governor Newsom’s approval could undermine consumer confidence and create confusion regarding food safety. The association believes that this law replaces a consistent national food safety system with a patchwork of state requirements, potentially leading to increased food costs. They advocate for reliance on the FDA’s scientific assessment of food ingredients and additives to address this issue.
