Is California really about to ban Skittles? – By Madeline Wells (SFGATE) / Mar 20 2023
A proposed California bill could force popular candies like Skittles to change their recipes — or stop selling them in California altogether.
In February, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel introduced Assembly Bill 418, which would prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of food products containing five chemicals linked to cancer and other health risks. One of these chemicals is titanium dioxide, which is listed as an ingredient in Skittles on the candy brand’s website.
Last July, a lawsuit filed in California alleged that Skittles are “unfit for human consumption” because they contain titanium dioxide; however, the lawsuit was dismissed in November. In 2016, parent company Mars Inc. promised to phase out the chemical from its candies. Mars Inc. did not return SFGATE’s request for comment in time for publication.
“Californians shouldn’t have to worry that the food they buy in their neighborhood grocery store might be full of dangerous additives or toxic chemicals,” said Assemblymember Gabriel in a press release. “This bill will correct for a concerning lack of federal oversight and help protect our kids, public health, and the safety of our food supply.”
