Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
Ban on Certain Food Dyes in School Nutrition Programs
This bill bans schools from selling or providing certain synthetic dyes in food and drinks to students through school nutrition programs.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing any food or beverage item containing specific petroleum-based synthetic dyes to students on school property through a nutrition program.
- Lists seven specific artificial food colorings that are banned: Allura Red AC, Erythrosine B, Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Erioglaucine disodium salt, Indigo carmine, and Fast Green FCF.
- Requires the ban to start on August 1, 2027, for contracts entered into after that date by LEAs or public charter schools with third parties providing food or beverage items.
Who It Names or Affects
- Local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in Tennessee.
- Third-party vendors who provide food and beverages to school nutrition programs.
Terms To Know
- LEA
- Local Education Agency, which refers to a local board of education or other authority responsible for the administration of public elementary or secondary schools within its jurisdiction.
- Public Charter School
- An independent public school that is governed by a charter and operates with more flexibility than traditional public schools in exchange for accountability for meeting specific goals.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify the consequences or penalties for violating this ban.
- It remains unclear how strictly LEAs and public charter schools will enforce the ban on these synthetic dyes.