CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed a bill that prohibits certain food dyes into law.
House Bill 2354 bans food dyes from being used in schools throughout West Virginia, and later more broadly throughout the state.
The bill will deem seven dyes as unsafe and will ban them from schools beginning on August 1. Those dyes are as follows:
- Red Dye No. 3
- Red Dye No. 40
- Yellow Dye No. 5
- Yellow Dye No. 6
- Blue Dye No. 1
- Blue Dye No. 2
- Green Dye No. 3
Morrisey, in a statement, said he wants the state to take a proactive step.
“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,” Morrisey said. “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.”
Those seven dyes will also be banned in drugs and food items for sale in the state beginning January 1, 2028.