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SB69 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.

Children Education Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Last action
2025-05-22
Official status
Signed by Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.
  • This Act prohibits a school district or charter school from selling or serving breakfast, lunch, or competitive food on campus during the school day that contains the color additive Red dye 40 (CAS no.
  • 25956-17-6).
  • Competitive foods are sold through the school nutrition programs, and include items sold in vending machines on campus or served a la carte.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT

  3. 2025-05-07 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-05-01 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Education Committee in House

  5. 2025-04-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT

  6. 2025-04-08 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

  7. 2025-03-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS.
This Act prohibits a school district or charter school from selling or serving breakfast, lunch, or competitive food on campus during the school day that contains the color additive Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6). Competitive foods are sold through the school nutrition programs, and include items sold in vending machines on campus or served a la carte.

Red dye 40 (CAS no. 25956-17-6) is a synthetic food coloring derived from petroleum. It is found in food products such as cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, popsicles, chips, dairy products, and confections. Red dye 40 is used solely to enhance the appearance of food and does not provide any nutritional value.

Consumption of Red dye 40 has been associated with hyperactivity, aggression, and other neurobehavioral problems in some children. Red dye 40 may also be linked with migraines and learning difficulties. The European Union requires a warning label to be placed on food products with Red dye 40, stating that it “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.

California became the first state to pass a prohibition on the provision of and sale of foods in schools that contain Red dye 40. Presently, at least 6 other states have introduced legislation to prohibit Red dye 40 in schools.

This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026. The Department of Education and local education agencies will use the period leading up to the implementation date as a planning and preparation year.