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Committee advances bill to expand ban on synthetic food dyes in school meals
Summary
Representative Renault said HB 1853 would broaden last year's red‑dye restriction to include additional petroleum‑based synthetic dyes (yellow 5/6, blue 1/2, green 3), giving vendors time to honor contracts; sponsor said fewer than 15 food items currently on school menus would be affected. The bill moved to full education (4 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting).
Representative Renault explained that HB 1853 builds on last year's action that removed Red No. 40 from school nutrition programs by expanding the standard to cover other petroleum‑based synthetic dyes such as Yellow 5 and Blue 1. "These additives serve no nutritional purpose and they really only exist for color and there are already safer alternatives available," Renault said, adding the bill includes compliance timelines and respect for existing vendor contracts.
Members probed sourcing and cost implications; Renault said school nutrition staff and a vendor superintendent told him only about 15 food items currently offered under the program would require changes and that an effective date of August 1, 2027 would provide time for reformulation and contract alignment. Representative Reedy noted private-sector moves (Walmart pledges) that suggest supply changes are under way. After debate the committee advanced HB 1853 to full education (vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting).
