Louisiana Governor Signs Bills Ensuring Ivermectin Access, Removal of Dyes From School Food

‘Today marks the beginning of a healthy transformation for Louisiana,’ Gov. Jeff Landry said.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks in the House Chamber in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 15, 2024. Michael Johnson/The Advocate via AP

Louisiana’s governor on June 27 signed bills that ensure people can access the drug ivermectin and that mandate the removal of food with artificial dyes from schools.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said just before signing the bills that “today marks the beginning of a healthy transformation for Louisiana.”

Louisiana Senate Bill 19 states that ivermectin, an anti-parasitic used by some to treat COVID-19 and other diseases, can be dispensed by pharmacists to adults “pursuant to a standing order issued by a healthcare professional with prescriptive authority in the Louisiana Department of Health.”

It also says that the Louisiana Department of Health will establish rules outlining standard procedures for dispensing ivermectin.

The bill “ensures access to the human form of this medication through pharmacists following the model that other states have implemented,” Landry said.

Earlier in June, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed the bill 67–26 and the Louisiana Senate approved it 31–4.

Some states started restricting access to ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic over concerns about side effects and an alleged lack of protection against COVID-19. Some studies have found no benefit, while others found it showed efficacy.

The Food and Drug Administration says on its website that “with few exceptions, health care professionals may choose to prescribe or use an approved human drug for an unapproved use when they judge that the unapproved use is medically appropriate for an individual patient.” The agency previously took down social media posts in which it said people should not take ivermectin to treat COVID-19 under a settlement with doctors who sued regulators.

Landry also signed Senate Bill 14, which bars schools from serving foods and drinks that contain certain ingredients, including artificial dyes and aspartame.

The legislation also requires advanced practice registered nurses practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology to complete at least one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health every four years.

‘It’s about transparency for restaurants and for food manufacturers to disclose the types of ingredients that they’re serving us and the potential impact those ingredients can have on our bodies,” state Sen. Patrick McMath, the author of the bill, said before the signing.

“This is far and away the most comprehensive MAHA bill in the country right now,” he added later.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been advocating for the removal of artificial dyes from foods as part of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, attended the signing.

“Louisiana is the 49th state in terms of poor health. Gov. Landry wants to change that, and I’m confident that this bill is going to do just that,” Kennedy said.

The Food and Drug Administration, part of Kennedy’s department, in April said it was banning two artificial dyes but would not take action against the others that are cleared. Officials said they chose to instead work with companies to remove them voluntarily.

The Consumer Brands Association, which represents manufacturers of foods and beverages, has said that the additives are safe.

Conagra, Nestlé, and Smucker are among the companies that have since said they would be removing the dyes from their products.