Alaska Senate panel considers banning synthetic food dyes from school meals

The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation that would ban synthetic food dyes from public school meals.

Senate Bill 187, sponsored by Sen. Bill Wilkowski, would prohibit six synthetic food dyes from meals or beverages provided to students as part of breakfast or lunch programs. The bill targets dyes that have no nutritional value and are linked to health problems in children.

"These are dyes that are either warning labels or prohibited in other states around the country and in other countries around the world," Wilkowski said. "There have been scientific studies that do prove that these are harmful."

Brittany Robbins of Alaska Community Action on Toxics testified that three of the targeted dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6), which account for 90% of food dyes used in the United States, contain known carcinogens. She said the dyes have been linked to attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and allergic reactions including hives, asthma, and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis.

"These synthetic food dyes have also been linked to behavioral issues such as attention deficit disorder, attention hyperactive deficit disorder, and autism spectrum disorder," Robbins said.

The bill's sponsors surveyed 10 Alaska school districts and found minimal cost impact. "All 10 of those noted that they do not think this would be a significant fiscal impact on their schools," said Phoebe Pepper, Wilkowski's staff member. Three districts that reviewed their supplies found only five or fewer affected products.

The legislation includes no enforcement penalties, relying instead on voluntary compliance. Parents could seek court injunctions against non-compliant districts, but the bill intentionally avoids punitive measures. Nine other states representing 31% of the U.S. population have enacted similar bans.

The committee will schedule another hearing for public testimony before taking action on the bill.