The proposed legislation would prohibit school cafeterias from serving foods with Red 40 and six other chemicals associated with potential health and behavioral issues.
A state legislator introduced a first-of-its-kind bill Tuesday that would ban seven additives from the foods that are served in California’s public schools.
Assembly Bill 2316 would prohibit school cafeterias from offering foods containing six artificial food dyes that have been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in some children. It would also outlaw titanium dioxide, a whitening agent used in candies and other products that is banned by the European Union because of concerns that it is potentially genotoxic, meaning it may damage DNA and cause cancer.
The bill, which was first shared with NBC News, would affect certain cereals, condiments and baked goods, among other foods, and it would make California the first state to ban the additives from schools. It was introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel.
Imagine if LSD was a vibrant color. Obviously not a good choice for food dye. Not just because it’s colorless and odorless but a very small amount changes behavior drastically. There are thousands of psychoactive substances, natural and synthetic.
One of the kids I used to babysit, his mom discovered a link between artificial color and behavior problems about 25 years ago from Go-Gurt. Easy process of elimination from trying other yogurts that it’s not the sugar or the yogurt. Anyway this kids behavior and life was a lot easier without food dyes. If I recall he was the only one of the 4 kids that it was so noticeable.