CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Synthetic dyes used to make brightly colored cereals, drinks, and sweets are being looked at more closely in states across the country. Lawmakers say the federal government has not acted despite evidence that these dyes are harmful.
West Virginia is one of the worst states for health in the U.S. This week, it was the first state to sign a total ban on seven of these dyes. Different political parties in more than 20 states, from very red West Virginia to very Democratic California, are working together to make it harder for people to get the dyes. These dyes have been linked to neurobehavioral problems in some children, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of them.
Republican Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, who leads the Senate’s health committee, said, “We shouldn’t have to police our own foods.” She also told lawmakers that the vote could be the most important of their political lives. “Stop using dangerous colors, and stop making our kids and ourselves sick.” No more risks that aren’t needed. We can’t sell our lives.”
GOP Gov. Patrick Morrisey used Kennedy’s slogan as an example when he signed the bill: “There’s no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission.”
From August on, school food will not have any red, blue, green, or yellow dyes or certain chemicals. This rule will apply to the whole state in 2028. It comes after smaller bills were passed in California last year and Virginia last week. These bills would stop six artificial dyes from being given in public schools starting in 2027.
What’s the point of lawmakers wanting the colors to die?
The Federal Drug Administration has given the go-ahead for 36 color additives to be used in food and drinks in the United States. Nine chemical colors made from petroleum have been approved for use in U.S. food, including Red 3.
For years, people who care about public health have been pushing for state and federal action, citing studies that show food dyes and other chemical additives can pose health risks, such as making ADHD symptoms worse in some kids and animal studies that show some additives can cause cancer.
Because they might be bad for your health, the European Union and some other countries, like Australia and Japan, have banned or limited the use of some food dyes.
At a protest in October, dozens of people stood outside the WK Kellogg Co. offices in Michigan and asked the company to take artificial dyes out of cereals like Apple Jacks and Froot Loops. Kellogg said it would get rid of artificial colors and ingredients from its U.S. goods by 2018, but it never did. In other countries, like Canada, where Froot Loops are colored with concentrated carrot juice, watermelon juice, and blueberry juice, the company did make the change.
In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took Red 3 out of the country’s food supply and gave manufacturers until 2027 to remove it from their goods. People who make drugs that are swallowed, like cough syrups, have until January 2028.
The food business says prices will go up.
People who sell chocolate, candy, gum, and mints belong to the National Confectioners Association. They said that the new rules will make food more expensive, harder to get, and less varied in grocery stores. It said that states like West Virginia, where one in four children live in poverty and many areas are “food deserts” with few places to get cheap, healthy food, will be hit the hardest.
Charles Leftwich, vice president of food safety and quality security for Sysco Corp., the biggest food service distributor in the world, said that rules about food safety should be based on science and be applied the same way everywhere.
According to Leftwich, a divided approach to food safety makes people not trust and believe in the food they eat. He said this in an interview with The Associated Press.
Changes are happening
West Virginia school districts have started to phase out breakfast cereals, strawberry milk, and other items in preparation for the date in August set by the new law.
Harrison County’s school nutrition program is run by Chris Derico. He thinks that the new rule will make costs go up, but he’s not “panicked” about it because the main dishes that kids eat don’t use any of the products that contain artificial dyes.
Travis Austin, who is in charge of food service for Cabell County Schools, said that the policy was “a step in the right direction.” He also said that makers will need to change their recipes to stay competitive.
He said, “It’s all about money.” “We’re not going to buy Froot Loops and Lucky Charms if they don’t change how they’re made.” We’ll get ones that do.
West Virginia has the highest rates of chronic diseases like obesity in the country. Lawmakers there pointed out that the colors are often found in sugary foods.
Jason Barrett, who pushed the bill, said that West Virginia was the first state to pass a law with this many effects, but it won’t be the last. He talked about a bill moving forward in Oklahoma that would ban 21 artificial food colors and additives.
Business take advantage of people with low incomes and kids, he said.
“When we pass this bill, we are telling big food companies that our people’s health comes first,” he said.
