California bans four dangerous food additives

It’s important to be aware what’s in the food you eat for the best health.

For years, I’ve been concerned about the food additive Red Dye No. 3.

Banned in Europe and only banned in candied cherries in the United States, it’s finally getting some needed regulatory attention here.

The four chemicals banned

Red Dye No. 3 is one of four chemicals banned in candy, cereal, soda, and other processed food sold and produced in California. The other three chemicals are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propyl paraben.

These chemicals are linked to health problems, such as hyperactivity, nervous system damage, and an increased risk of cancer. Children have lower tolerance levels than adults to chemical exposure, and their developing bodies make them more vulnerable to harmful chemicals in their food.

The impact of the new law

The new law won’t ban any foods or products, but it will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to the safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and many other places around the world.

It may affect food around the country, not just in California, so all Americans will likely benefit from the ban. Given the size of the state’s economy, it’s unlikely manufacturers will produce two versions of their product – one to be sold only in California and one for the rest of the country. 

As many as 12,000 products may be affected by the new law, based on the Environmental Working Group’s Food Scores database.

“These toxic chemicals have no place in our food,” said Susan Little, EWG’s senior advocate for California government affairs. “Manufacturers in Europe are producing the same food products without these harmful chemicals, so there’s no reason we can’t do the same.”

The shortcomings of U.S. food additive regulations

The action by California shows consumers that additives aren’t adequately regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Be sure to eat as much unprocessed food as possible and read labels carefully. Avoid food products that contain long lists of ingredients you don’t understand. The latest research shows that eating highly processed food results in higher risks of diseases including cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and conditions that affect blood flow to the brain.