Good news for children’s health as California bans 6 chemicals linked to behaviour problems
By America Correspondent
California has become the first state in America to ban food colourings linked to behavioural issues.
The state’s governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that bans the use of red dye No. 40 and five other chemicals from use in foods served at public schools.
The Golden State has passed a law banning the use of the ingredients found in some popular cereals, ice creams, drinks, candy, ice pops, cheese-flavored crisps and more.
The law will be enacted on December 31, 2027.
Known as the California School Food Safety Act it has seen as good news for thousands of children.
It was introduced by Democratic Assembly member Jesse Gabriel in February.
“California is once again leading the nation when it comes to protecting our kids from dangerous chemicals,” Gabriel said in a news release.
“The law is “important to me as a parent, it’s important to me as somebody who’s struggled with ADHD as a child, and it’s important to me as a parent of a child who is struggling with ADHD,” Gabriel said in the August briefing.
“We know that the synthetic food dyes that are targeted by this bill can cause harm for all kids, but we know that there is a specially pronounced impact on a lot of our young people with ADHD and other challenges.”
California is home to the largest public school system in the nation, with more than 6.3 million students and 10,000 schools.
In 2021, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released a study finding that many food dyes and colorants are known to make some children vulnerable to behavioral difficulties and decreased attention.
This includes the six dyes covered by the newly enacted California School Food Safety Act.
