Senate passes House Bill 23‑54 banning specified synthetic food dyes and two preservatives; sponsor cites public‑health concerns

The West Virginia Senate on March 5, 2025, passed House Bill 23‑54, which bans specified synthetic food dyes (Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6) and the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and propylparaben from foods sold in the state. The chamber voted 31 yeas, 2 nays, 1 absent on third reading and later took the two‑thirds vote necessary to make the measure effective from passage.

Why it matters: Sponsors argued the dyes and preservatives are linked to neurobehavioral effects in children and, in some studies, to carcinogenic compounds. The bill also imposes earlier restrictions on dyes in school nutrition programs and a later statewide consumer ban, creating a phased implementation timeline that affects producers, schools and retailers.

What the bill does

The bill text…