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The California Assembly, where the current multi-state movement to ban certain food additives began two years ago, has acted again; this time, its focus is on California’s $1.6 billion school lunch program. In its latest action, the California Assembly has sent the state Senate a bill that prohibits, commencing July 1, 2025, food containing seven specified food dye additives (Blue 1; Blue 2; Green 3; Red 40; Titanium dioxide; Yellow 5; and Yellow 6) from being offered, sold, or otherwise provided to students by school districts, county offices of education (COEs), charter schools, and state special schools.

The 59 to 0 vote on Assembly Bill (AB) 2316 advanced a bipartisan measure to ban those six food dyes and titanium dioxide from food provided in any of the state’s public schools. Two major consumer and environmental groups are backing the bill: Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group. Twenty-one Assembly members did not vote when the measure reached the floor.



AB2316 bans a list as harmful that includes Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No.

6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, and Green Dye No.

3, and the food additive titanium dioxide . The bill’s sponsor is Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encina. He says titanium dioxide has been linked to DNA damage and immune system harm, and the dyes are linked to neurobehavioral problems in children.

“California has a responsibility to protect our students from chemicals that harm children and can interfere.

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