Among the main products affected are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
The movie Flamin’ Hot Cheetos was showcased at the White House, hailed for paying tribute to Latino talent, their entrepreneurial spirit, and now, the main idea of Eva Longoria’s production is being debated in Sacramento.
A bill has been introduced to the California Assembly that would amend existing legislation to prohibit red dye 40 and titanium dioxide, among other color additives, from food sold in California public schools. Assembly Bill (AB) 2316 was introduced by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-46), who was also behind the recently passed California Food Safety Act, which bans five other additives from manufacture or sale in the state.
Among the main products affected are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
Beyond the controversy over whether the hero of Eva Longoria’s film, Richard Montañez, really invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, we have to ask ourselves if a product that is making our community sick is worth applauding. Let’s ask ourselves, do we have to recognize a person who boasts of inventing a snack that is leaving thousands and thousands of Latinos with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure every year?
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, like other snack foods, are generally considered to be unhealthy. While they may be tasty and enjoyable to eat, they are not a nutritious choice for regular consumption. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are high in calories, unhealthy fats, sodium, and artificial additives, and they lack significant amounts of essential nutrients.
And now, state lawmakers seem to agree.
The invention of Latino Richard Montañez is questioned in Sacramento.
The most recent bill aims to ban seven ingredients from public school breakfasts and lunches, six of which are artificial food dyes associated with hyperactivity and behavioral issues—blue 1, blue 1, green 3, red 40, yellow 5, and yellow 6—as well as titanium dioxide, which was included in the original draft of the California Food Safety Act but was removed before the legislation was passed into law. Titanium dioxide is also used as a food colorant, and it is suspected to be genotoxic when ingested by humans.
The toxicity of titanium dioxide is a matter of recent debate. For example, in the EU where titanium dioxide is banned as a food additive, an EU court annulled the European Commission’s 2019 classification of the chemical as a carcinogen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also maintains that titanium dioxide is safe as a food additive, while, in a recent safety assessment, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) were unable to specify an acceptable daily intake for the additive due to insufficient data.
Red 40 and yellow 6 are found in Takis, Doritos and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the main culprits that turn snack lovers’ fingers a powdery crimson. Blue 1 is found in Froot Loops, and other artificial dyes can be found in Jolly Ranchers, M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids and Mountain Dew.
If passed, AB 2316 would go into effect on January 1, 2025.
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