California bill aims to ban sale of popular candies containing ingredients that may cause health issues

Key Facts

Assembly Bill 418, or AB 418, seeks to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of food products in California containing red dye No.
In the EU, these chemicals are banned “due to scientific studies that have demonstrated significant public health harms, including increased risk of cancer, behavioral issues in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system,” Gabriel’s news release says.
The National Confectioners Association, a trade organization based in Washington, DC, released a statement on March 23 in response to the bill’s introduction: “Chocolate and candy are safe to enjoy, as they have been for centuries.
A California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment study that found red dye No. 3 can make children vulnerable to behavioral difficulties — such as decreased attention — also concluded that current federal levels for safe intake of food dyes might not protect children’s brain health.