(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The California State Assembly passed a bill banning several different types of candy due to chemical ingredients discovered to cause health issues.
Assembly Bill 418 banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of all products with titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, red dye No. 3, brominated vegetable oil or propyl paraben—all of which have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues and developmental complications.
According to the Post Millennial, no one present at the assembly noted the irony of the banning of harmful chemicals in a state that recently proclaimed itself to be a “sanctuary state” for those seeking sex reassignment surgery.
As part of the reason for this move, state officials cited the European Union’s banning of the chemicals—found in candies such as Skittles and Hot Tamales, as well as medicines, pizza, drinks, coffee creamers and flour.
“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to banning these dangerous additives,” said Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, in a statement.
“We don’t love our children any less than they do in Europe, and it’s not too much to ask food and beverage manufacturers to switch to the safer alternative ingredients that they already use in Europe and so many other nations around the globe,” Gabriel added.
Puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and other surgical methods of attempting to change one’s sex also have a bevvy of harmful side effects, including cancer, reproductive issues and developmental complications.
SB 107, passed in the state last year, prevents officials outside of California from taking legal action against institutions that provide “gender affirming care” and prescribe cross-sex hormones to “refugees” from states that banned the practice.
Republicans in California attempted to introduce a bill that would prohibit school teachers and administrators from transitioning children without the parent’s knowledge. Democrat officials blocked the effort.
Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, called the GOP bill “bad policy” and claimed it “would potentially provide a forum for increasing hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth.”
