A lawsuit has alleged that skittles candies is unfit for human consumption.
The lawsuit which was filed in northern California federal court alleges that the candies contain a “known toxin” called titanium dioxide, rendering them “unfit for human consumption”.
According to the Guardian, Jenile Thames a resident of San Leandro, filed suit against Mars Inc, the confection company that produces Skittles.
Thames claimed that people who consume Skittles “are at heightened risk of a host of health effects.
Reuters reported that titanium dioxide will be banned in the European Union next month after a food safety regulator there deemed it unsafe because of "genotoxicity," or the ability to change DNA.
"A reasonable consumer would expect that [Skittles] can be safely purchased and consumed as marketed and sold," the complaint said as reported by Reuters. "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 on Friday to requests for comment from Reuters.
Titanium dioxide is used in paint, adhesives, plastics and roofing materials, and can cause DNA, brain and organ damage, and well as lesions in the liver and kidneys.
