Dyes and additives could be banned from school meals

Holt, Mich. (WILX) - A bill sponsored by Rep. Brad Paquette (R-37) would ban dyes and additives from being distributed to schools.

House Bill 4369, if passed, would “amend the Food Law” and prohibit a distributor from providing food that contains certain products.

Those products include brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben. As well as dyes like Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 6.

If passed, the change would go into effect on July 1, 2028.

Moushumi Mukherjee, a dietitian and owner of Dietitian Mukherjee, supports a change banning those products. Saying they have “no nutritional value” and are a “cosmetic addition to food.”

Mukherjee says that these dyes pose potential health risks down the road for children.

“Some of the things specifically to kids could be behavioral things. We could see hyperactivity, you could see kidney issues, asthma, allergies, there’s like multiple different hormonal imbalances, reproductive health,” Mukherjee said.

In addition, she says there have been links between food dyes, like Red 40, and cancer.

As a dietitian, Mukherjee wants students to eat a cleaner and balanced meal of multigrain carbs, a good source of protein, dairy, as well as fruits and vegetables. She says it could give a boost to students during their long school days.

“I think it’s the ultra-processing of our food that causes our energy sap,” she said. “About 90% of my clients tell me how they get tired by afternoon. Why? I think it’s the processing of the food.”

Evan Robertson, Food Service Director at Holt Public Schools, also supports the potential bill, but says students might approach it differently.

He mentions as consumers, people use their eyes first when they get ready to eat lunch.

“That will be a bit of a change. May have to get used to seeing something, perhaps, not as bright and vibrant, but the end product will probably be very similar,” Robertson said.

Robertson said if Holt Public Schools finds items that contain dyes and additives, they would “look for a different product, or just cancel that product altogether.”

He says the current school food system works well, and the manufacturers usually are “in tune” with legislation. He also said even though the school may be using the same brand name as something on a grocery store shelf, the product “usually is very different.”

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