- On August 29, 2024 , the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2316, the California School Food Safety Act, sending it to the governor. If signed, the bill will prohibit school districts, county superintendents of schools, or charter schools with kindergarten through 12th grade from serving Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3, which researchers have linked to serious health issues.
- The California Assembly passed the bill in May 2024, finding that it is intended to protect the health and wellbeing of children. The bill was introduced following a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protective Agency that found that “consuming synthetic food dyes can lead to hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children.” According to the report, the FDA’s acceptable daily intakes for the dyes are based on outdated studies that did not detect behavioral effects in children.
- The California Assemblymember who introduced the “first-in-the-nation bill” stated that “California has a responsibility to protect our students from chemicals that harm children and interfere with their ability to learn.” The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction said the bill is “an important step forward to ensure that California’s schools are healthy and equitable learning environments for all.”
- California Governor Gavin Newsom will have until the end of September to sign or veto the bill. If signed, it will go into effect on December 31, 2027.
California School Food Dye Ban Approved by Legislature
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
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