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Committee holds bill to ban certain food additives in schools after mixed testimony
Summary
HB402, which would ban a list of ultra-processed ingredients from school meals, drew extensive public comment and was placed on hold after members expressed concerns about definitions, enforcement and impacts on vending revenue and parent-supplied treats.
Lawmakers in the House Education Committee opted to hold HB402 after extended public comment and discussion about scope, enforcement and legal language.
Sponsor Representative Chevrier described the proposal as a bid to reduce additives and ingredients she and supporters call “ultra-processed” from foods served in public schools during the school day. The second substitute to the bill removed a technical definition of “ultra-processed” and added an explicit carve-out to permit parents to bring or send treats for students.
Supporters including public-health advocates, parents and nonprofit groups urged the committee to act. Justin Mares of End Chronic Disease said some food dyes and additives are linked in studies to behavioral and health risks, arguing Utah should protect children even if the FDA has not taken federal action. Numerous parents and advocates testified that removing specific artificial dyes such as Red 40 improved behavior in some children.
Opponents and industry representatives urged caution. Dave Davis of the Utah Food Industry Association said any ingredient ban should be grounded in an objective, science-based standard and warned against a patchwork of state-level ingredient lists. Other speakers said some schools have already reduced additives and that fully swapping supplied products can be done at modest cost in many districts, but concerns remained about implementation, food-service contracts and revenue from vending machines that support extracurriculars.
Committee members asked whether the bill would ban parent-supplied treats and how the proposal would affect vending revenue and schools in rural areas with limited food suppliers. The sponsor said the second substitute explicitly allows parents to provide treats; she also said districts could partner with local vendors and that the State Board of Education had been leaning toward similar standards.
After discussion, Representative Auxier moved to hold HB402 so sponsors and stakeholders could refine language; the committee approved the motion to hold. Several members said they supported the bill’s goals but wanted clearer draft language on parent-supplied items, definitions and alignment with existing wellness and school-day code.
