Will Skittles no longer be sold in California?
That’s the burning question on the minds of Californians following the recent passing of a bill in the state that aims to alter the ingredients found in America’s most beloved candies and snacks.
The bill targets four specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3.
Initially, titanium dioxide, an ingredient found in Skittles, was included in the ban, leading many to believe that the candy would be prohibited in California.
However, titanium dioxide was subsequently removed from the ban, meaning Skittles won’t be affected by these changes. Additionally, Skittles doesn’t contain any of the other four aforementioned ingredients, ensuring the candy will remain unchanged — at least for now.
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In fact, when Jesse Gabriel, a Democratic assembly member from Woodland Hills, California, introduced legislation known as Assembly Bill (AB) 418, which aims to ban the sale of processed foods in California containing certain chemicals deemed hazardous and toxic, it quickly became dubbed the “Skittles ban,” even though that is no longer accurate.
When TODAY.com reached out to Mars, the manufacturer of Skittles, they directed us to the National Confectioners Association. This candy conglomerate, located in McLean, Virginia, is one of the largest member companies of the association. In a statement, the Association expressed strong opposition to AB418.
“Chocolate and candy are completely safe to enjoy, as they have been for centuries. We firmly disagree with AB418, as there is no evidence supporting the banning of the ingredients listed in the bill,” the statement reads.
“All the ingredients that could potentially be banned under this proposal have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The top priority for U.S. confectionery companies is food safety, and we adhere strictly to the FDA’s safety standards. Consequently, none of the ingredients we use in our products fail to comply with these rigorous standards,” the Association continued.
Regarding Gabriel’s intentions, he clarified to TODAY.com that he does not intend to ban Skittles. His aim is to make American treats less risky to consume.
“The main objective is for these companies to make slight adjustments to their recipes so that their products don’t contain dangerous and toxic chemicals. Skittles and various other brands have already modified their recipes in the European Union, the UK, and other countries where these chemicals are banned. We simply want them to do the same in the United States,” he explained.
While Skittles may be in the clear for now, around 12,000 other products, including Peeps, which contains red dye No. 3, could potentially be affected by AB418.
Nevertheless, the banning of an ingredient doesn’t automatically lead to the prohibition of an entire product. The bill will not take effect until 2027, allowing brands ample time to alter their recipes instead of withdrawing their products from an entire state.
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