California recently passed a law to ban a handful of dyes commonly used in food products in schools. For years, scientific studies and public health advocates have warned that some of these food dyes may contribute to behavioral issues in children and pose long-term health concerns.

California’s ban not only sets a new precedent for food safety in the U.S., but it also challenges manufacturers to reformulate their products for a new era of health-conscious consumers. We’ll break down which dyes have been banned, the possible health concerns, and what else you need to know to make informed food choices.

What Exactly Happened in California?

In September of 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California School Food Safety Act (Assembly Bill 2316) into law, the first piece of legislation in the United States to ban six dyes from food served in the state’s public schools. It was co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports and will be enacted on December 31, 2027. The law bans:

• Red Dye No. 40
• Yellow Dye No. 5
• Yellow Dye No. 6
• Blue Dye No. 1
• Blue Dye No. 2
• Green Dye No. 3

This law comes on the heels of the California Food Safety Act, which was signed into law last year and banned potassium bromate, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil, and Red Dye No. 3 in food that was manufactured, delivered, and sold in the state. 

In January of 2025, the FDA also revoked the authorization for the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs. The FDA is giving manufacturers until January of 2027 to reformulate food products and January of 2028 to reformulate ingested drugs.

Many of these ingredients are commonly found in popular cereals, ice creams, drinks, candy, ice pops, chips (especially cheese-flavored chips), jellies, and many more highly processed foods.

What’s the Problem With These Dyes?

According to some studies, these chemicals have been linked to certain neurobehavioral problems in children. In 2021, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released a study finding that food dyes and colorants can make some children more vulnerable to decreased attention and other behavioral difficulties. The dyes considered in the study include the six dyes banned by the newly enacted California law.

These chemicals may be a concern for other population groups as well, but children have lower tolerance levels to chemical exposure than adults, and their vulnerability can be enhanced by the fact that their bodies are still developing.

Red Dye No. 3 specifically has been linked in two studies to cancer in rats. This induced the FDA to revoke authorization for the dye in light of the Delaney Clause, which prohibits FDA authorization of a food additive or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.

The Chemicals Allowed in Our Foods

It’s important to note that the law does not ban any foods – it specifically only bans the ingredients, requiring manufacturers to remove the artificial dyes from their recipes and replace them with natural alternatives. Many companies already do this for consumers in the European Union and other places that have more restrictions around colors and chemicals included in food and drinks – and have for years.

Thousands of chemicals are allowed for use in food in the United States. While these chemicals are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many have not been reevaluated in decades, even when new research or findings have become available.

For example:

• The last time Red 40 was evaluated for health risks was 1971
• The last time Yellow 5 and Blue 1 were evaluated was 1969
• The last time Green 3 was evaluated was 1982
• The last time Blue 2 was evaluated was 1983
• The last time Yellow 6 was evaluated was 1986

Even though many consumers express concerns about chemicals in food, the FDA still only relatively loosely regulates additives like these food dyes.

But Newsom’s decision to sign this bill into law steers the United States food safety environment into closer alignment with the standards of the European Union. Under EU regulations, products including these dyes and chemicals are required to have a warning label stating that they may harm young people.

The FDA did not specify if its actions were inspired by this law in California, but it’s possible, and frankly likely, that California’s action had something to do with their decision.

How to Avoid These Chemicals

If you’re concerned about the potential impacts of consuming these dyes, the best way to avoid them is by checking the ingredients list on any of the products you buy, particularly ultra-processed packaged foods.

There are also alternatives without these ingredients. For example, foods that are USDA-certified organic can’t contain artificial food dye.
You can also look up ingredients of thousands of food products using the EWG’s FoodScores database.

Take Your Nutrition Seriously With a Coach

California’s decision to ban six controversial food dyes marks a pivotal moment in the push for safer, more transparent food production in the United States. This law not only puts California at the forefront of food safety reform but also sets the stage for nationwide discussions about ingredient standards. Whether other states follow suit or federal regulations eventually change, one thing is clear: the demand for cleaner, safer foods is here to stay.

Regardless of when or how other states or the federal government explore these regulations, you can always be in charge of your own nutrition and diet. And if you’re looking for additional guidance, consider working with an online fitness and nutrition coach.

If you think online coaching is for you, head to the inquiry form so that we can connect one-on-one.

Article updated February, 2025

Written by Emily Greffenius. Reviewed by Meghan Farrell, CPT, BSN