Residents press Wake County on food dyes in school meals, RDU zoning, housing authority oversight and Shotwell landfill expansion

Several residents used the public comment period at the Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 7 to press elected officials on a range of issues, including artificial food dyes in school meals, a proposed Article V resolution in the state legislature, zoning around RDU, oversight of the Wake County Housing Authority and concerns about a Shotwell Landfill expansion approved on the consent agenda.

Student concerns about food dyes: Sheila Awashti, a 4‑H Wake County Teen Council member and Millbrook High School student, told the board she and her twin removed artificial food dyes from their diets after health problems and research into additives. "Do you ever wonder what's in your food?" Awashti asked. She cited studies she said were conducted by researchers including scientists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and summarized research…