Gov. Newsom signs bill banning artificial food dyes in school snacks and drinks

Fruity Pebbles, Starburst, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and sports drinks are just some of the foods and beverages that could disappear from California schools after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning certain artificial food dyes from K-12 campuses.

Assembly Bill 2316, which goes into effect beginning on Dec. 31, 2027, bans the use of Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 in foods and drinks being sold at schools statewide.

The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), the same California lawmaker who spearheaded the effort to ban certain additives in some processed foods from being sold in the state.

According to the bill’s authors, the chemicals have been linked to developmental and behavioral harms in children, who cited a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency.

The Food and Drug Administration has said color additives are safe for consumption when used within its regulations and that it has “reviewed and will continue to examine the effects of color additives on children’s behavior.”

For Gabriel, the bill is personal. In March, the lawmaker told the Los Angeles Times that he had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a child. His son also has the neurodevelopmental disorder.

“California is once again leading the nation when it comes to protecting our kids from dangerous chemicals that can harm their bodies and interfere with their ability to learn. This bipartisan law will empower schools to better protect the health and wellbeing of students and sends a strong message to manufacturers to stop using these harmful additives,” Gabriel said in a statement.

Gabriel also hopes the new law will “encourage the federal government to take a more proactive role in protecting Americans from dangerous chemicals in our food supply.”

AB 2316 builds on legislation Newsom signed last year, which banned the sale of food containing four widely considered harmful food additives commonly found in candies and baked goods.

AB 418, which Newsom signed last year, requires manufacturers to reformulate their products by Jan. 1, 2027, to comply with state law. This impacts food sold anywhere in California.

AB 2316 only applies to school nutrition.

“Our health is inextricably tied to the food we eat – but fresh, healthy foods aren’t always available or affordable for families. Today, we are refusing to accept the status quo, and making it possible for everyone, including school kids, to access nutritious, delicious food without harmful, and often addictive additives,” Newsom said in a statement.