Food & Climate
6 synthetic food dyes include Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3 will be banned for first time in U.S.
Many of us may remember the movie “Wedding planner”, 23 years ago, when Stive (actor Matthew McConaughey) always advised Maria (actress Jennifer Lopez) not eating the sweets with these synthetic food dyes as it cause many health harms.
And while many researches showed that the many synthetic dyes used in food can cause harmful health effects, particularly in children recent years, the first law that bans it issued this month, according a report seen by “Food & Climate” platform.
Synthetic food dyes banning bill
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a California bill that will ban the use of certain synthetic substances for school lunches in the state.
Assembly Bill 2316 prohibits a school district, county superintendent of schools or charter school that has kindergarten or any grades one to 12 from serving meals with the additive food dyes Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3.
It would also prohibit the sales of food or drinks containing those materials with the exception of school fundraising events.
The bill’s author, Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, cited a California Environmental Protection Agency report that found food dye additives have been linked to health harms in children. Those include cancer, damage to the immune system, neurobehavioral issues and hyperactivity.
“California is once again leading the nation when it comes to protecting our kids from dangerous chemicals that can harm their bodies and interfere with their ability to learn,” Gabriel said in a news release. “This bipartisan law will empower schools to better protect the health and wellbeing of students and sends a strong message to manufacturers to stop using these harmful additives.
AB 2316 is a first-in-the-nation measure to directly address synthetic food dyes found in foods such as candy, cake, cereals, yogurt, puddings, gelatins and ice cream. Some of the more well-known candies and snacks that contain red 40 include Skittles, Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers and M&Ms.
“Our health is inextricably tied to the food we eat – but fresh, healthy foods aren’t always available or affordable for families,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his signing of AB 2316 and other food-related legislation. “Today, we are refusing to accept the status quo, and making it possible for everyone, including school kids, to access nutritious, delicious food without harmful, and often addictive additives. By giving every child a healthy start, we can set them on the path to a future with less risk of obesity and chronic illness”, according to “Kcra3″.
California Food Safety Act
AB 2316 follows last year’s signing of the California Food Safety Act, another first-in-the-nation measure that banned four chemicals: Red 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben. Gabriel also authored this bill.
The new measure goes into effect Dec. 31, 2027. Much like the California Food Safety Act, the bill will not ban specific foods or products, but it would encourage companies to adjust how they make their products.
Support for the bill includes California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the Environmental Working Group, Consumer Reports and a coalition of more than 70 organizations that represent doctors, teachers, nurses, scientists, environmentalists and consumer protection advocates.
According to a bill analysis, the Consumer Brands Association, a trade association for food manufacturers, is in opposition of the bill. It argues that the “measure usurps the comprehensive food safety and approval system for these colorings, would limit the availability of wholesome and healthy foods, and eliminates common opportunities for fundraising for sports teams and student clubs.”
Many of the most commonly used food colors are synthetic petroleum-derived chemicals that do not occur in nature. These synthetic dyes often substitute for real, nutritious ingredients, such as fruits and vegetables, and are often used to make junk foods more attractive, especially those manufactured for and marketed to children. And, unlike some additives, dyes don’t keep food from spoiling or fend off bacteria that cause food poisoning. They simply exist to help food companies make brightly colored foods look more appealing to eat, according to “Centre for science in public interest”.
“More foods contain synthetic dyes than you’d think! According to the USDA Branded Foods Database, more than 36,000 American food products contain Red 40, and more than 8,000 foods sold in the US contain carcinogenic Red 3”, the center said.