West Virginia Bans Seven Food Dyes

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill into law on March 24 that prohibits certain food dyes in school lunches and food items for sale in West Virginia.

House Bill 2354 deems the following food additives unsafe and prohibits their use as an ingredient in any meal served in a school nutrition program beginning Aug. 1: Red Dye No. 3; Red Dye No. 40; Yellow Dye No. 5; Yellow Dye No. 6; Blue Dye No. 1; Blue Dye No. 2; and Green Dye No. 3.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2028, the same dyes, along with preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, must not be contained in food items for sale in the state. This extended deadline allows companies time to adjust.

“West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there’s no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission,” said Morrisey. “By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we’re taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges. Thank you to the legislature, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy and the entire Trump administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia.

“Today’s announcement represents a step toward a productive dialogue about how West Virginia and our country can eat healthier and address some of the vexing health care problems facing our citizens. Through the implementation process, I look forward to advancing policies which improve our health care outcomes, maintain our jobs and respect the FDA’s and supply channel’s role in the process.”