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In recent days it has gone viral on social networks that California will ban the popular Skittles from 2027, within a law that includes restrictions on certain food additives considered dangerous according to various studies. In fact, this law has been known in the media as the ‘Skittles ban’ and there are posts on social networks that have accumulated more than 15 million views. But the truth is that the situation is not really about specifically banning these colorful candies, but about some components that have the recipe used in the United States.
This has been denied by California state representative Jesse Gabriel, according to Forbes magazine: “There is a zero percent chance that this will actually result in a ban on Skittles. All we want companies to do is change their recipes in the same way they have done in Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil and other countries that have banned these chemicals.”
The ingredients included in the law that will be banned (as well as any food or product containing it) are red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil or propylparaben. The Skittles recipe in the United States contains red coloring No. 3, but not in Europe.
Many studies have concluded that red dye number 3 may be linked to thyroid cancer in animals, although no studies have linked the chemical to cancer in humans. The Food and Drug Administration banned the chemical in 1990 for cosmetic uses because of its link to cancer in animals, but it was still allowed in food products.
In total, it is estimated that approximately 12,000 food products could be affected by California’s new law, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group. As such, the bill will not be implemented until 2027, which is “considerable time for brands to revise their recipes to avoid these harmful chemicals,” said Gavin Newsom. “Californians will be able to continue to access and enjoy their favorite food products with greater confidence in the safety of those products.”