In a significant public health victory, California has passed a new law banning six artificial food dyes from public schools. Assembly Bill 2316, set to take effect on Dec. 31, 2027, will protect children from dyes linked to hyperactivity and other health concerns. With the help of the WISEcode app, parents and educators can easily uncover these unwanted chemicals lurking in everyday food products.

Fruity Pebbles Banned: What to Know About The Dyes

Assembly Bill 2316 takes direct aim at the dyes Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. These unnaturally bright colorants are responsible for making processed foods pop, but at what cost? These dyes are considered addictive additives and often addictive additives, raising concerns about their effects on children's behavior and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorder. Their presence in foods has prompted scrutiny over the impacts food sold in schools has on children's health and well-being. Here’s where they often hide:

• Red 40**(Allura Red)** – Drinks, breakfast cereals, baked goods, flavored yogurts, chips, gelatin, dessert powders, candy, other foods, and even cosmetics and medicines.

• Yellow 5**(Tartrazine)** – Soft drinks, pickles, snacks and plenty of other processed junk.

• Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue) –From baked goods to beverages and mouthwash, it’s everywhere.

• Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine) – Cereals, sugary drinks, ice cream and candy.

• Green 3**(Triphenylmethane)** – Canned peas, other processed vegetables, fish, beverages, pudding, dessert powders, ice cream, sherbets, sorbet, Candies, other foods, medicines and even personal care products.

Popular Offenders Containing These Dyes (not all-inclusive)

• Candy:Skittles, M&M’s, Fruit Roll-Ups, Pop Rocks, Sour Patch Kids, Nerds, and Jolly Ranchers

• Chips:Doritos (various flavors),Cheetos, Lays (some flavors), Funyuns, Ruffles (certain flavors)

• Cereal: Trix, Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch (various types), Froot Loops, Lucky Charms

• Beverages: Kool-Aid, Gatorade (various flavors), Powerade, Hawaiian Punch

The bill banning these dyes was introduced by California lawmaker Assembly member Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), the same California lawmaker behind previous food safety efforts. The bill's authors were motivated by concerns about the impacts food sold in schools has on children's health, especially regarding the link between artificial dyes and children's behavior. Lawmaker told reporters that his personal connection to the issue stems from seeing the effects of these additives on children in his own community.

The goal of the ban is to ensure all children have access to nutritious and healthy foods at school. Children's well-being is inextricably tied to the quality of their diet, making it essential to eliminate harmful additives. Nationally, advocates like Kennedy Jr have also pushed for removing synthetic dyes from foods to protect children’s health.

Introduction to Food Dyes

Artificial food dyes have become a staple in the world of processed foods, giving everything from snacks and cereals to drinks and candies their eye-catching colors. While these vibrant hues make foods more appealing, especially to children, they come with growing concerns about their impact on health. Research has increasingly linked certain artificial food dyes to developmental and behavioral harms in kids, raising red flags about their widespread use in school snacks, beverages, and other foods. In response to these concerns, California has taken a bold step by banning specific artificial food dyes in foods and drinks served to school kids. The goal is to ensure that children have access to nutritious and delicious food options, free from potentially dangerous chemicals that could affect their health and behavior. As more parents and educators become aware of the risks, the push for safer, dye-free foods continues to gain momentum.

Regulatory Actions: How Bans Are Decided

Banning certain artificial food dyes isn’t a decision made lightly, it’s the result of years of scientific research and careful review by regulatory agencies. In California, the move to restrict dyes like Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 was driven by reports from the California Environmental Protection Agency, which found links between these additives and developmental and behavioral harms in children, including conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also plays a key role, regulating color additives and monitoring their safety. While the FDA currently allows these dyes within set limits, it continues to review new evidence about their effects on children’s behavior, signaling a more proactive role in protecting Americans from potentially harmful additives in the food supply. The bipartisan law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom empowers California schools to take a stand, ensuring that school snacks and drinks are safer for kids and setting a strong example for the rest of the country.

Affected Products: Where Banned Dyes Lurk

The new law has a direct impact on many popular products that kids love. Cereals like Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, and Froot Loops, as well as snacks such as Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and other Hot Cheetos varieties, are known for their bright colors - colors that often come from the very artificial food dyes now banned in California schools. Sports drinks, baked goods, and a wide range of processed foods also contain these additives, making them subject to reformulation under the new law. For manufacturers, this means rethinking recipes and finding safer, natural alternatives to maintain the great taste and visual appeal of their products. The ripple effect will be felt throughout the food industry, as companies adapt to meet new standards and reduce the presence of harmful additives in the food supply. Ultimately, these changes aim to make foods and drinks healthier for children, while still offering the flavors and fun they love.

How WISEcode Helps You Spot Artificial Food Dyes and Ingredients

With these new bans, WISEcode becomes your go-to tool for spotting these dyes before they end up on your plate. The app's ingredient scanning makes it simple to scan food barcodes and reveal hidden dangers.  

1. Ingredient Scanning: Scan barcodes and instantly uncover harmful additives, including the newly banned dyes.

2. Educational Insights: Learn about the health risks associated with certain additives, giving you the power to make informed choices. 

The Fight For Food Transparency in the Food Supply is Here

California is putting kids' health first by banning  these dangerous dyes in schools. As this law pushes forward, knowing exactly what's in our food is no longer optional - it's a must. WISEcode equips parents and educators to quickly spot any harmful ingredients in snacks and meals, helping them steer clear of potentially risky foods. 

This law marks a huge win for kids' health, but it's only the beginning. WISEcode is shining a light on the additives that sneak into our foods, helping families make better, more informed decisions. Together, we can expose what's really in our food and hold brands accountable.