Arizona governor signs bill banning ultra-processed foods in schools
04/24/2025 / By Laura Harris
- Arizona’s HB 2164, the “Arizona Healthy Schools Act,” bans ultra-processed foods containing harmful additives (e.g., potassium bromate, synthetic dyes) in public school cafeterias and vendor-sold meals. The law takes effect in the 2026–2027 school year.
- The additives are linked to childhood obesity, diabetes, behavioral disorders and other health issues. The law emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods for taxpayer-funded school meals.
- Backed by both parties and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., enforcement falls to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), requiring compliance reports but no major administrative overhaul.
- California’s AB 418 (the “Food Safety Act”) bans four additives (e.g., red dye No. 3, brominated vegetable oil) statewide by 2027, with fines up to $10,000 for violations. Unlike Arizona’s school-focused law, this applies to all food sales.
- Both laws aim to push manufacturers to reformulate products with safer alternatives. Major brands like Coke and Pepsi have already phased out some of these ingredients voluntarily.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a legislation prohibiting ultra-processed foods from being sold or served in school cafeterias and third-party vendors in Arizona public schools on April 14.
House Bill 2164, dubbed as “Arizona Healthy Schools Act,” targets additives found in popular snacks such as Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts, Froot Loops and nacho cheese Doritos. These additives include potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, yellow dyes (5.25 and 6.26), blue dyes (1.27 and 2.28), green dye (3.29) and red dyes (3.30 and 40.31) that are linked to childhood obesity, diabetes and behavioral disorders.
The legislation, which received bipartisan backing and championed by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., states that “ultraprocessed, industrially manufactured, nutrient-depleted food with synthetic additives is undernourishing minors at public schools.” So, it mandates that “any taxpayer-funded meal or snack program offered to minors at public schools in this state should be nutritious and made primarily of whole, minimally processed plant or animal products.”
“It was an honor welcoming @SecKennedy to the Arizona Capitol last week to celebrate the passing of my bills HB2164 and HB2165. Republicans and Democrats are united in making sure our school children are eating foods without toxic dyes and chemicals! #MAHA @RobSchneider,” state Rep. Leo Biasiucci, a Republican who co-sponsored the legislation, posted on his official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
However, the law, which will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year, does not prohibit parents from packing these foods for their children but regulates school-provided meals and snacks.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) will oversee enforcement, requiring schools to certify compliance and publicly report their adherence. The law’s administrative burden is minimal, relying on existing staff to implement the changes.
California bans the manufacture, sale or distribution of four food additives statewide
This move follows the landmark Assembly Bill 418, dubbed as the Food Safety Act, in California.
AB 418, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2023, bans the manufacture, sale or distribution of four additives – including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and Red Dye No. 3. These additives are linked to health issues like cancer, hormone disruption and mood disorders and commonly found in popular cereals, sodas, candies and baked goods. (Related: Newsom orders crackdown on processed foods as obesity epidemic grows.)
Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), who authored the bill, emphasized that the law does not ban specific foods but rather pushes manufacturers to make minor recipe changes and switch to safer alternatives.
“What we’re really trying to get them to do is to change their recipes. All of these are nonessential ingredients,” Gabriel said at that time.
Major brands, including Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade and Panera, have already phased out some of these ingredients.
The law, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, will impose fines of up to $10,000 for violations. It also applies statewide, whereas Arizona’s measure focuses solely on schools.
StopEatingPoison.com has more stories about the dangers of ultra-processed foods.
Watch the following video to learn what ultra-processed foods do to the body.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
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