California extends food safety measures with new ban on synthetic dyes to school
USA – The California Legislature has banned more food ingredients to maintain food safety and protect its people from chemicals that can interfere with their learning ability.
This time, six food dyes are being banned from California’s public schools. Passed unanimously by the California Senate and Assembly, the California Food Safety Act only awaits the governor’s signature to become law.
The bill prohibits public schools from serving food and beverages containing synthetic colourings, which California lawmakers believe are linked to neurobehavioral issues experienced by some children.
Assembly Bill 2316 bans dyes in schools, including Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.
The ban follows the complete prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and distribution of any foods anywhere in California containing the additives red dye no. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben.
Jesse Gabriel, the Assembly representative who has sponsored both sets of bills, said AB2316 will encourage manufacturers to stop using additives and empower schools to protect children much better.
The law made California the first state to ban toxic chemicals from food and set off other similar measures around the country. Two prominent non-governmental organizations, Consumer Report and the Environmental Working Group, have supported the new California restrictions.
“Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop and maintain nutrition guidelines for school lunches, breakfasts, and all food and beverages sold on public school campuses,” the bill stated.
“Existing law requires those nutrition guidelines to be consistent with the requirements for a nutritionally adequate breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch. Existing law defines a nutritionally insufficient breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch for these purposes to mean those that qualify for reimbursement under the most current meal pattern for the federal School Breakfast Program and the federal National School Lunch Program, respectively.”
This bill, beginning Dec. 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, from offering a nutritionally adequate breakfast or lunch containing specified substances.
This includes, among others, red 40 and yellow 5 and would prohibit a school operated and maintained by a school district or county office of education from selling food or beverages, except for food items sold as part of a school fundraising event, containing those specified substances, as provided.
To the extent this bill would impose additional requirements on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.