Bill > HB2354

This bill amends West Virginia state law to prohibit certain potentially harmful food additives, specifically focusing on artificial food dyes, in school nutrition programs and food sales statewide. Starting August 1, 2025, schools will be banned from serving meals containing seven specific food dyes (Red Dye No. 3 and No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5 and No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1 and No. 2, and Green Dye No. 3) in their nutrition programs, with some flexibility for school fundraising events. The bill expands the definition of adulterated food to include these dyes and other substances like butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, making it illegal to sell food containing these additives. While the law includes potential penalties for selling adulterated food, such as fines up to $500 or jail time, it provides an exception for businesses selling less than $5,000 of such food per month. The legislation aims to protect public health, particularly children's health, by removing potentially harmful food additives from school meals and broader food commerce in West Virginia, with the changes set to take full effect on January 1, 2028.