School lunches in California will soon be safer, thanks to a bill introduced in the California State Legislature yesterday that would ban six synthetic food dyes and titanium dioxide from food served in California public schools. It might become. This bill, introduced by Rep. Jesse Gabriel, would provide much-needed protections to California's children and act decisively where federal and state agencies have failed. Gabriel also championed the landmark California Food Safety Act of 2023, which would ban carcinogenic Red 3 and three other harmful food additives from all food sold in the state starting in 2027. .
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has long recommended eliminating synthetic food dyes from all school meals, including school lunches, competitive foods, and milk. CSPI is also a leader in urging the Food and Drug Administration and the state of California to protect consumers from synthetic food colors and titanium dioxide, and urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve school lunch standards. ing.
In 2008, after research conducted in the early 2000s showed that dyes can have negative effects on some children, including ADHD-like symptoms that interfere with classroom learning. CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban the synthetic food dyes covered by this bill. And nearly three years ago, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) completed a comprehensive and rigorous review of the evidence, including 27 human clinical trials, showing that synthetic food dyes may cause neurobehavioral effects in some children. We conclude that it can cause or worsen the above problems. OEHHA went on to say, “At least in the short term, we should recognize the neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes on children and take steps to reduce children's exposure to these dyes.” .
“For affected children and their families, teachers, and school systems, the short-term increases in inattention, restlessness, and anxiety that occur on a daily basis after ingesting food dyes can lead to decreased social and academic success. ” OEHHA report.
Given the serious public health implications and OEHHA's conclusions, CSPI and its affiliated organizations and scientists petitioned the California Department of Public Health in December 2022 to request that the department prohibit synthetic colorants sold in the state. called for mandatory warning labels on food products to warn consumers of the effects of these dyes. It can affect the child's neurobehavior. The ministry has not yet issued a ruling on the petition. That means California's children are still at disproportionate risk of harm from dyes.
Meanwhile, the FDA has not acknowledged the findings or recommendations in the OEHHA report, taken no action to protect consumers, or even indicated any plans to reconsider the safety of these color additives.
The FDA has also not yet ruled on a pending petition to ban titanium dioxide. The petition, filed in March 2023 by a coalition of five public health organizations including CSPI, cites evidence that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can accumulate in the body and damage DNA. .
Federal school nutrition standards set by the USDA continue to allow the use of synthetic dyes and titanium dioxide in school meals.
The seven substances prohibited by this bill (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) are all colorants and are not necessary for food and are only used for making food. used for. Although it looks attractive, it has no nutritional benefits.
Even if the FDA, USDA, and CDPH fail to protect children, the California Legislature can succeed.
CSPI urges the California Legislature to quickly pass this bill to ensure that California's children are not unnecessarily exposed to harmful food coloring while at school. We applaud Congressman Gabriel's continued leadership in efforts to protect food and children.
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