CA Assembly Passes Bill to Ban Titanium Dioxide and Other Substances in Food; Senate Expected to Pass

California Assembly Bill 418—which would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of any food product that contains titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye #3—passed the State Assembly on May 15, 2023. AB 418 was then read in the Senate on May 16, which is also expected to pass the bill. It was referred to the State Senate Committees on Health and Environmental Quality on May 24.

The ban would become effective on January 1, 2025. Violation of the bill’s provisions would result in a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. If AB 418 is enacted, California would be the first state to ban the five chemicals in food. For more information on the bill, see the Packaginglaw.com article, CA Bill to Ban Titanium Dioxide and Other Ingredients in Food Passes Health Committee.