AB2316

The California School Food Safety Act will require that food served during school hours be free from the following artificial food dyes: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Join the Food Fight and urge your representatives to support a world-class American food system free of toxic additives!

 

Pass the California School Food Safety Act

 

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Click “Act Now” to quickly reach out directly to your elected representatives! Read the full bill text here.

 

These dyes can cause allergic reactions and have been linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral problems in some children. These dyes have been substituted for natural alternatives in the same products in other nations, where synthetic dyes are banned.

 

 

Did you know?
  • Red #40 is a food dye made from petroleum, has no nutritional value, contains benzene, a known carcinogen, and is associated with ADHD, irritability, depression, skin irritation, and migraines. (Cleveland Clinic)
  • Yellow #5 & #6 are food dyes made from petroleum, have no nutritional value, and have been found to be contaminated with benzidine and other carcinogens.  (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23026007/)
  • Blue #1 & #2 are food dyes made from petroleum, have no nutritional value, and pose potential health risks, such as hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and, in the case of Blue 2, possible carcinogenic effects based on animal studies. (Center for Science in the Public Interest)
  • Green Dye #3 is a food dye made from petroleum, has no nutritional value, and has been linked to the formation of tumors in male rats. (Center for Science in the Public Interest)

Bill introduced by Encino lawmaker would ban artificial food dyes in California schools (via ABC)

[…] A bill proposed by state legislators would ban artificial food dyes they say are harmful to children and are often found at schools, including: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Those are often found in popular snacks.

“The point of this bill is to encourage manufacturers to make minor modifications to their recipes,” Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) told ABC7, “so that they can serve the same foods that we all love, that our kids love, but without these dangerous chemicals.”

Lesley-Ann Brandt, an actress, activist and mother, says allowing these chemicals undermines the resources the schools provide.

“When one child in the classroom struggles, and I’ve seen it firsthand in my son’s classroom, everyone does, and it affects their day, their ability to learn,” Brandt said in an interview with ABC7.

[…] “There has been some research linked to some of these food dyes causing neurobehavioral problems in kids, which include cognitive learning abilities, memory, and trouble focusing while in school, said Anna Iranosian, with Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.

 

 

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“California has a responsibility to protect our students from chemicals that harm children and interfere with their ability to learn,”
As a lawmaker, a parent, and someone who struggled with ADHD, I find it unacceptable that we allow schools to serve foods with additives that are linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral harms. This bill will empower schools to better protect the health and wellbeing of our kids and encourage manufacturers to stop using these harmful additives.
I am grateful that AB 2316 has received strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to working with our incredible coalition of doctors, nurses, classroom teachers, school administrators, and parents to advance this bill to Governor Newsom’s desk.”

– CA Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel

 

 

Watch the full video

August 7, 2024

CALIFORNIA – CA Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and actress Lesley-Ann Brandt speak about the effects of these synthetic dyes and the loopholes that allow them to be used in the US.

Learn more

Pass AB2316: The California School Food Safety Act

Pass AB2316: The California School Food Safety Act

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Toxicology of food dyes

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