California becomes first state to ban foods with ingredients linked to ADHD and cancer in schools READ MORE: California considers ban on foods containing toxic dyes in schools By Luke Andrews Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 20:29 BST, 30 August 2024 | Updated: 20:46 BST, 30 August 2024 e-mail View comments Cheetos, Sunchips and some raisins could soon become things of the past in California 's public schools. State lawmakers have passed a first-in-the-nation bill that would ban schools from serving foods containing six artificial ingredients that have been linked to low IQ, behavioral problems and cancer .
The bill has now been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom 's desk which, if he signs it, would go into effect in December 2027. Supporters herald the legislation as an important step forward in protecting the health of California's children. It outlaws foods containing the additives Red Dye No.
40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No.
1, Blue Dye No. 6 and Green Dye No. 3.
The ingredients that could be banned are prevalent in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and have been associated with a host of medical issues. Red 40, as well as Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 contain benzidene, a human and animal carcinogen permitted in low, thought-to-be safe, levels in dyes and can be found in products including Sour Patch Kids and Lucky Charms. According to the FDA, ingestion of free benzidine raises the cancer risk to just under the ‘concern’ threshold, or one cance.