Potential Ban on Flammin’ Hot Cheetos in California

Flammin’ Hot Cheetos, one of the most popular choice in snacks for students, is facing scrutiny in California.

California schools could ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos under new bill https://t.co/ik9NlziSdk via @Yahoo

— Greig Murry (@DruggedAmerican) March 13, 2024

A new bill in California would ban all food products containing artificial dyes in public schools. This would include an ingredient that gives the Cheetos the infamous yellow and red colors.

The Los Angeles Times goes more into the specifics of the bill:

Assembly Bill 2316 takes aim at six synthetic food dyes — blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 40, yellow 5 and yellow 6 —as well as coloring agent titanium dioxide, ingredients commonly used to artificially tintfoods including candy, as well as drinks and some medications and vitamins.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) introduced the bill and emphasized this is not an outright ban of any specific products, but of those chemical ingredients.

“This is not going to ban for sale in the state of California any of these foods,” Gabriel said Tuesday during a news conference touting the bill. “This is not a food ban. This is not banning Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in California.”

Both Red 40 and yellow 6 are commonly found in Tatis, Doritos, and Flammin’ Hot Cheetos. Furthermore, Blue 1 is commonly found in Froot Loops, Jolly Ranchers, M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids, and Mountain Dew.

This bill comes after the successful bill AB 418, commonly referred to as the “Skittles ban”. This banned many different chemicals from being used in food sold in California.

On the heels of ‘Skittles ban,’ California moves to ban food dyes from school meals too https://t.co/iLQ5bmFI41

— East Bay Times (@EastBayTimes) March 12, 2024

The Sacramento Bee goes more into detail about the pushback from the bill:

AB 2316 is being met with pushback from some industry groups, including the National Confectioners Association, which issued a statement Tuesday in response to the bill.

“It’s time for (Food and Drug Administration) Commissioner (Robert) Califf to wake up and get in the game. These activists are dismantling our national food safety system state by state in an emotionally-driven campaign that lacks scientific backing. FDA is the only institution in America that can stop this sensationalistic agenda which is not based on facts and science,“ the group said in a statement. The group pointed out that there is no FDA-approved alternative to titanium dioxide to make sure food maintains shelf life, pigment and opacity.

Surprisingly enough, Assembly member Gabriel has a few allies in order to pass the bill, which includes bill co-sponsors Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group.

Lawmakers supporting this bill argue