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CV NEWS FEED // This summer, West Virginia will become the first state to ban certain synthetic food dyes and preservatives from food and beverages in school lunches, following the passage of House Bill 2354.
Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed the bill into law on March 24.
The bill states that starting August 1, the following food dyes, “which are poisonous and injurious to the health,” will be prohibited from any school nutrition program Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue, Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, and Green Dye No. 3.
In January 2028, the same food dyes, along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, will be banned from food and drinks sold within the state. The extended deadline allows companies time to adjust their food production and protect their customers from a price increase.
Fox News reported that proponents of the bill believe the move will improve health outcomes, especially in children. Contenders of the bill believe it will increase food prices.
“By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we’re taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges,” Morrisey stated after signing the bill.
Morrisey also thanked the Trump administration as well as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for helping West Virginia launch a public health effort in the state. On March 28 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a press release supporting West Virginia’s legislation. Kennedy joined Morrisey on stage during a press conference at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg.
“West Virginia is leading the nation in passing a bill to clean up our food supply and submitting a waiver to remove soda from SNAP,” Secretary Kennedy said, “I commend the 24 states pushing MAHA bills to clean up our food system, improve school lunches, submit waivers to SNAP, and promote patient choice.”
Trump’s 2024 campaign, with Kennedy and the Make America Healthy Again movement, is spearheading the effort to remove harmful dyes and preservatives from the nation’s food supply.
According to Chemical and Engineering News, 20 other states are considering regulations aimed at protecting children from chemical dyes and preservatives in their food.
Concerns over chemicals and dyes in food were raised in California in 2021 following a Health Effects Assessment by the California Environmental Protection Agency linking the consumption of chemicals in food and potential neurobehavioral effects in some children.
