The bill would ban public schools from purchasing or serving foods containing certain synthetic food dyes.
In Washington, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched substantial efforts to promote public health and battle chronic disease in the United States. His goal to “Make America Healthy Again” has inspired action at the federal level and is trickling down to the states as well.
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are prioritizing public health through recently introduced legislation focused on food dyes and whole milk. The bills aim to improve the health of students across the Commonwealth.
State Representative Natalie Mihalek of Allegheny County has sponsored the Healthy Student Act, which would ban public schools from purchasing or serving foods containing certain synthetic food dyes.
In a recent interview, Mihalek said the proposal was inspired by “keeping track of what my kids are buying in the cafeteria.”
“The reality is, there are so many more choices – so many healthier choices – out there. There’s really no reason to be selling artificial dyes to our kids,” she said.
The Healthy Student Act targets six petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. The bill would prevent schools from selling foods that contain the dyes on school grounds “during the school day,” including in vending machines.
“This is just something that came to the forefront and now everybody’s talking about it,” Mihalek said of the current conversation surrounding public health under Secretary Kennedy.
Last month, Kennedy announced that he plans for the agency to begin pushing companies to “voluntarily phase out” the chemicals, although they are approved for use by the FDA.
Mihalek’s bill, if enacted, would not take effect until July of 2027 to give school districts time to prepare.
Similar restrictions have been put in place in other states, including California and West Virginia.
Mihalek introduced the bill as part of a broader package that focuses on food safety and public health through targeting food labeling and ingredients. One of the bills would require disclosure of the dyes for any food product sold or manufactured in Pennsylvania.
The Healthy Student Act has been referred to the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee.
The committee recently held a hearing on food policy, and some of the conversation focused on a potential ban on artificial food dyes, but business representatives opposed such a ban.
“At the end of the day, this is all done while no meaningful improvement in public safety outcomes is made. Because the ingredients have already been reviewed and thoroughly vetted by the FDA,” said Aaron Riggleman of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
Another bill focusing on student health was introduced by State Senator Michele Brooks of Mercer County.
The Whole Milk in Pennsylvania Schools Act would allow schools in the Commonwealth to purchase and serve whole and 2% milk produced within the state. The bill would not require schools to sell whole milk.
Under current law, Pennsylvania schools are only permitted to serve 1% or non-fat milk. The law dates back to 2010.
The 2010 law was originally put in place to reduce childhood obesity and improve nutrition, but Brooks argues whole milk is critical to child nutrition.
“Thirty years ago, 35 years ago, kids weren’t nearly as obese… and we drank whole milk. There was literally cream on top of the milk. I think there’s other ways that we can work on [this],” Brooks said in a recent interview.
Whole milk, while it contains more calories and saturated fat, has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for brain development and heart health. Brooks’ bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
