Skittles Ban in California: Confusion Among Candy Lovers over New Bill

California passed a bill aiming to change ingredients in popular candies and snacks, but Skittles will not be affected.

The recent passing of a bill in California has raised concerns among its residents regarding potential changes to the ingredients found in popular candies and snacks across America. This bill specifically targets four ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3.

Initially, there was speculation that Skittles, which contains titanium dioxide, would be banned in California. However, it was later revealed that titanium dioxide was no longer included in the ban, making Skittles exempt from the changes. Additionally, since Skittles does not contain any of the other four listed ingredients, it can be assumed that the candy will remain unaffected by major alterations, at least for the time being.

Assembly Bill (AB) 418, introduced by Jesse Gabriel, a Democratic assembly member from Woodland Hills, California, aimed to ban the sale of processed foods in the state that contain certain chemicals deemed dangerous and toxic. This legislation quickly became known as the "Skittles ban," although it is now evident that this label is a misnomer.

TODAY.com reached out to Mars, the company behind Skittles, who directed them to the National Confectioners Association, as Mars is one of the association's prominent members. The Association expressed strong opposition to AB418 in a statement to TODAY.com. They asserted that chocolate and candy have been safe for consumption for centuries, and there is no evidence to support the banning of the ingredients listed in the bill. They emphasized that all these ingredients have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. confectionery companies prioritize food safety by adhering to the FDA's strictest standards.

Gabriel clarified that his intention is not to ban Skittles but rather to make American treats less hazardous to consume. He explained that he wants companies to make minor adjustments to their recipes to exclude dangerous and toxic chemicals, just as Skittles and other brands have done in the European Union, the UK, and other nations where these chemicals are already banned. The goal is to encourage similar actions within the United States.

While Skittles may have escaped immediate consequences, there are still around 12,000 products, including Peeps, which contains red dye No. 3, that could be affected by AB418. However, it is important to note that the banning of an ingredient does not necessarily result in the removal of an entire product from the market. The bill's implementation is set for 2027, allowing brands sufficient time to modify their recipes instead of choosing to cease selling their products in the entire state of California.