‘[These] non-essential ingredients… make food look more vibrant’

A new bill from California targets potentially harmful food additives in school meals. That’s great news for children’s health and the environment.

The proposal, introduced by state lawmaker Jesse Gabriel on March 12, would ban California public schools from offering food products containing any of the most common dyes and dyes, including blue 1, red 40, yellow 5 and titanium dioxide.

These additives can be found in many products, from colorful breakfast cereals and sports drinks to cake mixes and canned vegetables, according to the Guardian.

A growing number of studies have drawn possible links between consuming these synthetic dyes and increased hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children. By removing these unnecessary chemicals from school food, the bill aims to better support student learning and well-being.

As Gabriel explains, the targeted additives are “all non-essential ingredients…The whole point of it is to make food look more vibrant.” In other words, these dyes have no nutritional purpose whatsoever; they just make food look more attractive.

And there’s an exciting environmental benefit, too: The bill could motivate major food companies to phase out these artificial additives, given the purchasing power of California’s extensive public school system. That would mean cleaner food and a healthier planet for us all.

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As California Assembly Member Gabriel, who himself has ADHD, puts it, “The idea here is that we would protect [kids] Having those chemicals at school, so that they can learn and perform at the highest level, made perfect sense to me.”

Other states are already following California’s lead, with similar bills in Illinois, Missouri, New York and Washington. It’s encouraging to see more and more leaders taking action to remove these avoidable chemicals from our food supply.

So here’s to California, leading the way to healthier school meals and a future with more natural foods. With any luck, AB 2316 will bring about positive changes that benefit our children and our environment across the country.

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