_x000D_Photo: href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(Skittles)_a_handful.JPG”>David Adam Kess, href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0″>CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is the notorious Red Dye 3 that stirred a colorful debate in California?

Red Dye 3 has been in the spotlight due to California’s recent legislative moves. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Oct. 7, 2023, banning four food additives, including Red Dye 3, due to safety concerns. This dye is commonly found in snacks and candies, such as Skittles. Due to potential health risks, it has been subject to scrutiny and bans in different regions, like the European Union. The new law doesn’t ban candies but restricts certain additives, forcing companies to adjust their formulations by 2027._x000D__x000D_Skittles ban“> due to a previous version that would have banned titanium dioxide, a chemical found in Skittles in the US. However, this proposal was removed from the final bill. Despite this, the nickname caused misinformation on social media, falsely claiming Skittles were prohibited in California. But guess where to find titanium dioxide-free Skittles? The answer is Europe, where the European Commission banned titanium dioxide in 2022.