Committee hears testimony on HB 4,369 to ban certain additives from taxpayer-funded school meals

Lansing — The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on May 14 took testimony on House Bill 4,369, sponsored by Representative Jack Paquette, which would prohibit a list of synthetic additives and ultra-processed ingredients from taxpayer-funded school meals and other state-funded food programs.

The sponsor and multiple witnesses said the bill targets ingredients they described as harmful to children's health, including artificial food dyes, brominated vegetable oil, titanium dioxide and certain preservatives. Representative Paquette said the measure is modeled in part on California legislation and is intended to ensure that foods purchased with public funds are "food, not additives."

"Food is a medicine," Paquette said in opening remarks. "If we have taxpayer dollars that are going to funding foods in our schools, we should at least ensure…