On September 11, the California Senate passed AB-418, The California Food Safety Act. As our readers know, if signed into law, AB-418 would prohibit the manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale a food product that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red dye 3.

As of just last week, titanium dioxide was removed from the list of prohibited substances. Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, stated earlier this week that supporters of the bill “would have preferred not to take out titanium dioxide” but that “having the four that are in there now […] certainly is a welcome development.” Those in opposition to AB-418, like the American Chemistry Council, believe the bill is “an overly broad and unnecessary burden on consumers, manufacturers, and regulators.”

AB-418 passed the Senate in a 33 to 3 vote and is now sent to Governor Gavin Newsom to be signed. Governor Newsom has not indicated where he stands on AB-418. If signed, the bill would go into effect on January 1, 2027.