Ultra-Processed Foods Set for School Lunch Ban in State Bill

A bill has been proposed in Arizona's House of Representatives that would ban the sale of popular ultra-processed foods that contain certain ingredients. Republican state Representative Leo Biasiucci proposed HB 2164, which would ban public schools from selling or serving ultra-processed foods on campus during the school day. Parents would be allowed to continue including ultra-processed foods in their children's packed lunches. Biasiucci told Newsweek: "Our children are the most vulnerable and most important members of our society. We must do everything we can to make sure we are providing them with only the best ingredients for their health." "Childhood obesity, morbidity and wellness are matters of statewide concern," the bill said. "Ultraprocessed, industrially manufactured, nutrient-depleted food with synthetic additives is undernourishing minors at public schools and contributing to childhood obesity." "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 continued. This bill joins a growing movement in the U.S. to ban additives in food that may be linked to poor health.

What Is Ultra-Processed Food?

Ultra-processed foods are usually defined by the Nova classification, a system invented by Brazilian scientists who coined the phrase "ultra-processed" to categorize foods by their processing level. According to the Nova system, ultra-processed foods are edible substances that have been industrially manufactured using methods, ingredients and additives that are unavailable to people cooking at home. Most packaged goods sold in grocery stores fit into this category, as does about 70 percent of the food Americans eat. This is not how "ultra-processed food" is defined in the Arizona bill. Instead, the state is proposing to ban foods that contain 11 specific ingredients. Biasiucci said: "I wanted to make sure I chose ingredients that I knew we had the scientific data on to push a ban. "These ingredients either have substantial data to prove their toxicity and/or have been banned in other countries or states."

Additives to Be Banned in Arizonan School Lunches

The additives the bill bans are potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, yellow dye 5, yellow dye 6, blue dye 1, blue dye 2, green dye 3, red dye 3 and red dye 40. Some of these additives have already been banned by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA banned brominated vegetable oil in July after numerous studies found it to be dangerous for thyroid health. The FDA also banned the use of red dye 3 in food on Wednesday after it was found to increase the risk of cancer in rats. The ban is scheduled to go into effect on January 15, 2027, to give companies time to reformulate their products. The other additives are all legal in the U.S., while green dye 3 is banned in the European Union because of its links with tumor formation in animals. Yellow dye 5 and red dye 40, otherwise known as tartrazine and allura red, respectively, have been linked to possible hyperactivity in children and cancer risk. Both come with health warning labels in EU countries. Titanium dioxide is a food coloring considered unsafe by the European Food Safety Authority because it may increase the risk of DNA damage and cancer. Propylparaben is a preservative often used in cosmetics and food. It may interfere with hormones and increase the risk of certain cancers. Potassium bromate is an additive sometimes used in bread and other baked goods to strengthen the texture of the dough. It is known to be toxic in high doses, and low-level exposure may increase the risk of certain cancers. Yellow dye 6 (sunset yellow), blue dye 1 (brilliant blue) and blue dye 2 (indigo carmine) are food dyes that some believe may be linked with hyperactivity and allergies in children.

Which Foods Contain These Additives?

Foods that could be banned in school lunches as a result of the Arizona bill include some brands of baked goods—such as hot dog and burger buns, pastries, muffins and breads—and some brands of boxed macaroni and cheese, sauces and salad dressings. Branded products that may contain some of these additives include Doritos, Cheetos, Mountain Dew, Fanta, Jell-O, Skittles, Starburst, Sour Patch Kids and M&M's. Biasiucci said that he was enthused by the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Donald Trump's health secretary to create change in the food system. "I think this is one of the best nominations President Trump has made since winning the election," he added. "This is truly an exciting time for the health of our country." Do you have a tip on a food story that Newsweek should be covering? Is there a nutrition concern that's worrying you? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek. Update, 01/21/25 6:55 a.m.: This article was updated to include comment from Republican state Representative Leo Biasiucci.