Schoolchildren celebrate school nutrition law with Horne, Rep. Biasucci, other lawmakers

New law restricts schools from providing harmful foods on campus

PHOENIX – A new state law that restricts schools from providing harmful foods on campus is being celebrated by schoolchildren joined by state lawmakers and schools chief Tom Horne at a commemoration of the bipartisan bill’s being signed into law by the Governor.  

HB 2164 was sponsored by Rep. Leo Biasiucci of Lake Havasu City and creates restrictions on public schools serving or selling food containing ingredients shown in scientific studies to be harmful, such as potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, yellow dyes 5 and 6, blue dyes 1 and 2, red dyes 3 and 40 and green dye 3. This comes amid growing concerns about ingredients that potentially cause significant health risks for children.

Horne said, “This is a familiar crusade for me. In 2006, I was successful in getting sugared sodas out of schools, and I am very enthusiastic that this legislation has become law. We need to eliminate harmful foods from public schools and vending machines. Synthetic food dyes are associated with behavioral issues which then affect a child's ability to perform academically and engage socially. Replacing foods that contain these ingredients and synthetic dye with those that are minimally processed is achievable. This is already done in Europe. Manufacturers have worked over the past few years to remove trans-fat and reduce sodium to meet USDA requirements, so this change is both desirable and possible.”

Rep. Biasiucci noted, “Our kids deserve better than artificial dyes and cheap fillers in their lunches. If we’re providing meals at school, they should be real, nutritious food—not the kind of processed junk that’s banned in other countries. This law puts the health of Arizona’s children first, plain and simple.”