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California bill banning select food dyes from school meals heads to governor’s desk
Also in this week’s K-12 legislative update: federal bill aims to increase summer meal access for children.
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A California bill that would ban six food dyes from being used in school meals now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature. | Photo: Shutterstock
California lawmakers have passed a first-of-its-kind bill that will ban a select number of food dyes from being used in school meals. At the federal level, a bipartisan bill was introduced that aims to expand summer meal access for children. Here’s what you may have missed in child nutrition legislation.
California Senate says yes to banning certain food dyes from school meals
A California bill banning certain food dyes from school meals is one step closer to becoming law.
The California Senate has passed A.B. 2316 which would ban would ban six food dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3) in school meals. Food items sold at school as part of a fundraising event would be omitted from the law.
The bill was introduced earlier this summer by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who references a 2021 report by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) as the reason for introducing the legislation. The report found that consuming synthetic dyes can cause neurobehavior problems in some children.
A.B. 2316 now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law. If approved by the governor, it would go into effect at the end of December 2027.
Federal bill would expand summer meal access
U.S. Representatives Mary Peltola (D-AK), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Chris Smith (R-NJ) have introduced a bill that would expand summer meal flexibilities for summer meal sites.
The Summer Meals Act of 2024 aims to expand summer meal access for kids through the following:
Lowering the eligibility threshold to operate a summer meal site to 40%. Currently, summer meal sites can only operate in areas where 50% of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school.
Allowing summer meal sites to serve three meals a day instead of two.
Allowing summer meal sites to operate year-round, enabling summer meal sponsors to offer after school meals during the school year without having to also participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Setting up a grant program intended to help fund innovative ways to deliver summer meals to kids who can’t make it to a summer meals site.
“Kids should be focused on learning and getting good grades instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from,” said Representative Larsen, who represents Washington state’s Second Congressional District, in a statement. “One in six children in Washington state faces hunger. With schools out, summer months are especially hard for children in low-income and underserved communities. The Summer Meals Act builds partnerships and breaks down barriers to ensure children in the Pacific Northwest and across the country get regular, healthy meals, regardless of the season.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Participation in summer meal programs has fallen in recent years according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Bills like the Summer Meals Act of 2024 , would help more children access meals when school is out of session, FRAC officials argue.
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