West Virginia has taken a significant step toward reducing synthetic chemicals in food by banning certain artificial dyes and preservatives. This decision aligns with a growing national movement advocating for safer, more natural food ingredients.
On Monday, Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a bill into law that prohibits the use of seven artificial food dyes and two preservatives in the state. The banned dyes include Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, and Green No. 3. Additionally, the preservatives Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Propylparaben will also be restricted under the new regulations.
Implementation of these changes will take place in stages. Schools will be required to eliminate these dyes from their food offerings by August 1 of this year. Meanwhile, a broader ban covering all food and drug products sold in West Virginia will go into effect on January 1, 2028.
Governor Morrisey emphasized that this measure is particularly important given the state's poor rankings in public health metrics.
"West Virginia ranks last on a lot of health metrics, so it's the perfect place to spearhead the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement," Morrisey said. "By eliminating toxic substances from our food supply, we are moving toward improved health for our citizens and protecting children from long-term health and learning issues."
This effort follows a larger national trend, as states such as California already have similar laws in place. In recent years, California has passed legislation that restricts synthetic food additives in school lunches and other foods. Multiple other states have made bills that would prohibit the use of artificial coloring agents and preservatives.
There have been increasing concerns about synthetic food coloring. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approves 36 food and beverage color additives for use, including nine artificial coloring substances. The FDA considers the artificial dyes to be safe, but increasingly scientists and watchdog organizations have questioned them, especially with respect to their impact on children's health.
In December, the FDA intensified its review of food additives in response to increasing concerns. However, the agency has acknowledged that budget constraints could slow the evaluation process. In January, the FDA decided to revoke approval for Red Dye No. 3 in food products after studies linked it to cancer in lab animals.
Reference:
1. CBS News. 2025. "West Virginia Moves to Ban Food Dye and Preservatives over Health Concerns." CBS News, March 2025. Accessed March 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-virginia-food-dye-ban-preservatives-harmful-health-effects/.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)
