California lawmakers have voted to ban schools from serving snacks containing additives and dyes linked to behavioral problems in pupils. The snacks affected include Twinkies, Flamin Hot Cheetos, Doritos, and others. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said it was “unacceptable” that such foods are available in educational institutions.
Mr. Gabriel, who composed the legislation, stated that he understands some of the problems these additives cause because he is a parent, and he has personally suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Announcing the bill in March, Gabriel said the “chemicals” are also associated with more serious health conditions, including cancer and “DNA damage.” Experts agree, and in 2012, the National Institutes of Health discovered that a dye known as Red 3 has been found to cause cancer in animals, while Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 contain contaminants such as benzidine, which is linked to increased cancer risk.
Additionally, Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 6 cause an elevated immune response to some allergens, manifesting in hypersensitivity. Rodent studies on Yellow 5 tested positive for genotoxicity, causing cell mutations that could prompt cancer development. The National Institutes of Health has long campaigned for the removal of these additives, and the Food and Drug Administration said it demands proof that “a color additive is safe at its intended level of use before it may be added to foods.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the new bill into law, given that he approved similar legislation last year. In August, Mr. Newsom signed Assembly Bill 418 that prohibited “any food product manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, or offered for sale in California from containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye 3.” The law will take effect on January 1, 2027, allowing manufacturers sufficient time to revise their recipes so that people can still enjoy their favorite snacks but with more confidence in their safety.
The additives in Bill 418 are likewise linked to cancers and behavioral difficulties in children, and Mr. Newsom said Golden State residents had the right to expect safe foods.
