A consumer group has sued candy maker Mars, alleging that Skittles contain a "toxin, titanium dioxide" that makes the rainbow candy "unsafe" to eat.

The class action lawsuit, filed in Oakland by San Leandro resident Janile Thames, alleges that Skittles are unsafe for consumers because they contain "elevated levels" of titanium dioxide.

The lawsuit also says titanium dioxide will be banned in the European Union next month after food safety regulators deemed it unsafe because of genotoxicity, or the ability to alter DNA.

Mars Inc. uses titanium dioxide to produce Skittles' rainbow of artificial colors. In October 2016, the candy manufacturer shared in a press release its intention to remove titanium dioxide from its products in the coming years, but titanium dioxide is still used in products such as Skittles, the lawsuit says.

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