Skittles: the seemingly unassuming candy that every trick or treater loves. But are they really all that perfect? Taking a closer look at the ingredients you can see that they’re actually not that healthy for you. They include high amounts of sugar, Red dye 40, and many other harmful ingredients. Recently, California signed a bill to ban four different additives; Red dye No. 3, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate and propyl paraben. These ingredients are all linked to a higher risk of cancer and hyperactivity in children. The bill will not officially go into effect until January of 2027, giving the Skittles company time to change their candies into a healthier, safer alternative.
Skittles include Red dye 40, which has been proven to cause a higher risk of cancer and ADHD in children.
“Attention problems in young children are a huge problem in children, and if Red Dye 40 is contributing to that, then the laws should have been made earlier,” Newtown High School sophomore Maggie Mattera said.
Red dye 40 is a synthetic food dye made out of petroleum that is added in things like candies and soda to make it more appealing, especially to children. The dye causes neurological and chemical changes in the brain that can cause a depletion of important minerals like zinc and iron.
The cancer risk rising due to the dye is because of some of the ingredients it is made out of. There is something called benzidine, which is a carcinogen, something that causes cancer in the body. Until there is a different way to make the dyes, stick with finding safer alternatives for the dye with things like cherries or beet juice.
In addition, keep in mind the other ways to keep yourself healthy. Childhood obesity has become a rising problem in America. In 2015-2018, 19.3 percent of 6-11 year olds were obese. 12-19 year olds had a 20.9 percentage. According to EWG, the 2.17 ounce Skittles product has 47 grams of sugar, calculating to 73% of its total weight. Sugar is one of the leading causes of obesity, because without enough calories it cannot be balanced out.
Some children and adults are more susceptible to the risks than others, but it’s important to keep yourself safe and watch your daily intake of Red dye 40 and sugar. An acceptable daily intake of the dye is 3.2 mg per pound, according to Medical News Today. 25 grams is the best intake for your sugar levels a day. Although California is the only state with this ban, FDA is putting pressure on all of the states to follow suit. NHS sophomore Nikki Mukka agrees with California.
“Yes, [ban Red Dye 40] at the same time that California is doing it.” Newtown High School sophomore Nikki Mukka said.
The California laws don’t start until 2027, but trying to avoid the four ingredients early is always great.
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