Skittles are toxic, US lawsuit claims

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Mars Inc has been sued by a consumer who claims Skittles candies are unsafe to drink because they contain a known toxin that the company pledged six years ago to phase out.

In a proposed class action lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Oakland, Calif., Jenile Thames accused Mars of endangering unsuspecting Skittles eaters by using « increased levels » of titanium dioxide, or TiO2, as food additive.

The lawsuit also said titanium dioxide would be banned in the European Union next month after a food safety regulator ruled it unsafe because of its « genotoxicity » or ability to alter body fat. DNA.

“A reasonable consumer would expect it to be safe to buy and consume as marketed and sold,” the complaint states. « However, the products are not safe. »

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for fraud and violations of California consumer protection laws.

Mars did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

The McLean, Va.-based company, which is privately held, pledged in February 2016 to remove artificial colors from its food products within the next five years.

In October 2016, he confirmed that titanium dioxide was among the colors removed, according to the nonprofit Center for Food Safety, citing an email from Mars.

According to the lawsuit, titanium dioxide is used in paint, adhesives, plastics and roofing materials, and can cause DNA, brain and organ damage, as well as liver and kidney damage. .

Thames, of San Leandro, Calif., said he bought Skittles at a local QuikStop in April and wouldn’t have done so had he known of their contents.

He said checking the label wouldn’t have helped because the ingredients on Skittles’ bright red wrappers are hard to read.

The case is Thames v Mars Inc, US District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-04145.

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Photo of Lucas Lucas15/07/2022
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