Treat Ban?

Update: On October 7, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning four food additives: red dye No. 3, propylparaben, potassium bromate, and brominated vegetable oil. The ban will go into effect starting January 2027.

Update: On October 7, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning four food additives: red dye No. 3, propylparaben, potassium bromate, and brominated vegetable oil. The ban will go into effect starting January 2027.

This Halloween, kids will go door-to-door seeking treats. But according to California lawmakers, certain snacks shouldn’t get tossed into trick-or-treaters’ bags. That’s because they contain chemicals that could be harmful to your health.

Recently, California’s State Assembly considered a bill to ban five common food additives: titanium dioxide, red dye No. 3, propylparaben, potassium bromate, and brominated vegetable oil. These chemicals are often added to processed foods—like chips, candy, and other snacks—to enhance their flavor, freshness, or appearance. In the end, the lawmakers decided not to include titanium dioxide in the bill after all. As of press time, Governor Newsom had not signed the bill into law. But if he does, it will force manufacturers to stop using the other four ingredients in foods sold in California. This also would likely affect products sold throughout the U.S.

Some studies have linked all five chemicals to health problems like increased cancer risks and behavioral issues in kids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of food additives. Critics of the bill cite that the chemicals meet the FDA’s safety standards. But those backing the bill believe the additives require more scrutiny. They point to Europe and other parts of the world that have long banned these chemicals, swapping them for additives deemed safer. The same could be done in the U.S., they say.

These additives aren’t the only potential problem with processed foods. Many often contain high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. It’s better to eat fewer processed foods in general, says environmental chemist Tasha Stoiber, and healthier to “eat mostly whole foods like fruits and vegetables.” Stoiber works at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that researches the safety of products. However, Stoiber also says that indulging in cake or candy is fine once in a while. “Those foods are part of celebrating!”

This Halloween, crowds of costumed kids will go door-to-door and ask for treats. But some lawmakers in California are concerned. They say certain candies and snacks don’t belong in trick-or-treaters’ bags. That’s because they contain chemicals that could harm people’s health.

California’s State Assembly was set to vote on a bill when this article was published. The bill could ban five common food additives. They are titanium dioxide, red dye No. 3, propylparaben, potassium bromate, and brominated vegetable oil. These chemicals are often added to processed foods, like chips, candy, and other snacks. The purpose is to improve their flavor, freshness, or appearance. If the law passed, manufacturers would have to stop using these ingredients in foods sold in California. And this would likely affect products sold all over the U.S.

Some studies have linked these five chemicals to health problems. They include increased cancer risks and behavioral issues in kids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of food additives. Some people criticize the bill. They say that the chemicals meet the FDA’s safety standards. But others support the bill. They believe the additives need more study. Europe and other parts of the world have long banned these chemicals. Instead, they use additives considered safer. The same could be done in the U.S., supporters say.     

These additives aren’t the only possible problem with processed foods. Many often contain high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. It’s better to eat fewer processed foods in general, says environmental chemist Tasha Stoiber. She says it’s healthier to “eat mostly whole foods like fruits and vegetables.” Stoiber works at the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C. This nonprofit organization researches the safety of products. But Stoiber also says that eating cake, cookies, or candy is fine now and then. “Those foods are part of celebrating!”