Seven food dyes will be banned from foods on West Virginia grocery store shelves in 2028.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey Tuesday signed a bill that deems unsafe seven food dyes — Red No. 3 and 40, Yellow No. 5 and 6, Blue No. 1 and 2, and Green No. 3. The measure bans them in school meals by Aug. 1, 2025, and in any foods in the state Jan. 1, 2028.
The bill would also ban sales of the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben in drugs and food items sold in West Virginia.
Morrisey referenced the "Make America Healthy Again" movement in a press release applauding the bill's passage.
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"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,” Morrisey said Monday.
In a press release, the International Association of Color Manufacturers criticized the measure.
"Compliance will be costly and complex for producers, retailers, and distributors alike — some of whom will be forced to discontinue operations in the state," the release said. "Reformulating products is neither simple nor immediate, and the resulting supply disruptions will limit the availability of familiar grocery items, exacerbating food accessibility challenges, especially in rural areas."
The Food and Drug Administration recently banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food, following California's move to do the same in 2023. California last year also banned use of the other six dyes in K-12 school feeding.
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