The food and beverage industry is fighting to kill a bill making its way through the California Legislature that critics argue could negatively impact the taste and cost of some of America’s favorite snacks.
California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat, earlier this year introduced AB 418, legislation that would ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of products containing five specific and widely used food additives across the Golden State: red dye 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and brominated vegetable oil. These ingredients, all approved for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are used in several popular food items, especially candy.
The bill, which initially didn’t include an enforcement mechanism, was recently amended to say a first violation would be punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000, and each subsequent violation would trigger a fine not to exceed $10,000 — a change that, critics say, means taxpayer money would be allocated to fund “candy cops.”
“They are literally creating candy cops in California. If the whole thing wasn’t so serious it would be hilarious,” said one candy industry executive who spoke to Fox News Digital. “This is not well thought out, and the consequences for business are real and widespread.”
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The executive explained that the food industry is focused on lobbying to stop Gabriel’s bill but said it hopes to “get to the table” with advocates supporting the measure to discuss “practical and pragmatic perspectives.” That being said, the executive characterized the legislation as arbitrary and ultimately counterproductive.
“There’s no scientific basis for this bill. An assemblyman in California with no regulatory expertise was sitting in his office and came up with a list seemingly at random,” said the executive. “All the ingredients are deemed safe and acceptable for food. Banning them has significant consequences within the food…
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