California took steps to become the first U.S. state to ban four potentially harmful food additives typically found in candy, fruit juices, and cookies, among other foodstuffs.
When the law takes effect in 2027, foods containing brominated vegetable oil, red dye 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben will no longer be lawfully manufactured, distributed, or sold in the state.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the delayed rollout of the measure — referred to as the California Food Safety Act — will enable food manufacturers to tweak their recipes and find replacements for the additives.
“Californians will still be able to access and enjoy their favorite food products, with greater confidence in the safety of such products,” Newsom claimed upon signing the bill, according to NPR.
The new law is expected to impact processed foodstuffs nationwide, given that manufacturers are unlikely to produce two versions of the same product, per Consumer Reports.
Regulators in Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan have enacted similar bans on the four additives.
However, some entities have called out California for acting independently of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For instance, a statement from the National Confectioners Association accused Newsom and other supporters of the measure of “making decisions based on soundbites rather than science” and “undermin[ing] consumer confidence and creat[ing] confusion around food safety.”
“This law replaces a uniform national food safety system with a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements created by legislative fiat that will increase food costs,” the statement reads.
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been used as a food additive in the United States since the 1930s, acting as an emulsifier that keeps beverages like soda from separating. However, animal studies in the 1970s showed that high consumption of BVO can negatively affect the heart.
The FDA’s current stance on BVO is that it should be limited to under 15 parts per million. Known health issues caused by consuming BVO have been limited to people who binge drink soda products. They reported experiencing neurological problems and skin lesions, according to USA Today.
Still, the overall health effects of BVO consumed in moderation remain poorly understood by the scientific community.
“We know we drink it,” explained Christopher Reddy, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “But I don’t think it’s fully understood about where it goes once it passes your teeth, how long it stays in your body, and whether it breaks down in your body — whether it creates significant harm to the body or even chronic harm.”
As for red dye 3, the substance is used as a color additive in candy, processed food, and pharmaceuticals. However, it was banned by the FDA for cosmetic use in 1990 when studies showed it caused thyroid cancer in lab animals when administered in high amounts.
Potassium bromate is often added to baked products to improve texture, with the FDA advising it should be limited to 50 milligrams per kilogram.
However, animal studies have seen it cause cancer, leading the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer to consider it a potentially carcinogenic.
“While it’s unknown the exact amounts that [might] lead to cancer, lab studies show that potassium bromate converts to oxides and free radicals in the body, which can damage DNA and chromosomes, with the amount of damage directly affected by the amount of potassium bromate ingested,” explained Kelsey Kunik, a registered dietitian, according to EatingWell.
Propylparaben typically appears in processed foods as a preservative. However, animal studies suggest the substance can disrupt the endocrine system and hormone signaling when consumed in high amounts.
“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety,” claimed California Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), NPR reported. “This bill will not ban any foods or products — it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other places around the globe.”