California lawmakers are debating a bill that would ban five toxic chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues in children from food in the state.
The Hill says AB 418 is looking to ban the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 or titanium dioxide. These chemicals are already banned in Europe but not in the U.S.
Introduced by Democratic State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks at the beginning of February, the bill has since been referred to the committees on health and environmental safety and toxic materials.
As far as the companies that produce the chemicals are concerned, a spokesperson for the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group shared a recent letter opposing the bill, while also referring The Hill to the Consumer Brands Association (CBA).
The letter, sent last week to the chair of the California State Assembly Committee on Health, makes an argument against AB 418, on behalf of 11 organizations “that represent manufacturers, distributors and retailers of food and beverages,” including the ACC and CBA.