*California lawmakers proposed a bill this week banning the sale of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in state public schools.
According to CBS News, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) introduced A.B. 2316 on Tuesday, legislation that would ban “7 harmful chemicals linked to serious health concerns including DNA damage, cancer, hyperactivity, and neurobehavioral issues from food served to students,” he said in a press release. Additives like blue 1, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, and red 40, present in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Takis, are now subject to regulation. Additionally, foods that contain the dyes blue 1, blue 2, green 3, yellow 5, and yellow 6 would also be prohibited.
Gabriel noted that these ingredients are currently banned in Europe.
“This legislation will not ban any specific foods or products,” Gabriel said, ABC 7 News reports. “The goal here is to encourage companies to make minor modifications to products sold in California if they want their products to be sold in California public schools, and let’s be clear, that’s a big market.”
Gabriel A.B. 2316 bill follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of the California Food Safety Act, a law that bans four harmful chemicals from food products in the state. The law, also known as Assembly Bill 418, was signed by Newsom on Oct. 7, 2021.
“California has a responsibility to protect our students from chemicals that harm children and that can interfere with their ability to learn,” Gabriel said in a press release.
“As a lawmaker, a parent, and someone who struggled with ADHD, I find it unacceptable that we allow schools to serve foods with additives that are linked to cancer, hyperactivity, and neurobehavioral harm,” Gabriel continued. “This bill will empower schools better to protect the health and wellbeing of our kids and encourage manufacturers to stop using these dangerous additives.”
A.B. 2316 is now on its way to the Assembly Education Committee and is slated for a hearing within the next month.
READ MORE: Biopic About Janitor Who Invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to Debut on Hulu and Disney+ | Watch Trailer
