California Legislature Passes Bill Banning 6 Chemical Dyes in School Food

The dyes have been linked to cancer, neurobehavioral issues, and hyperactivity in children.

Students prepare to eat their lunches at a school in the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Lawmakers in California passed a bill seeking to ban certain dyes from being used in food supplied to schools, as the chemicals pose a potential risk to children’s health.

In March, state Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel introduced AB 2316 which prohibits schools from serving foods containing six synthetic food dyes—Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.