West Virginia Prohibits 7 Artificial Food Dyes Due to Health Issues – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
8:19 AM – Tuesday, March 25, 2025
West Virginia has prohibited the sale of products containing specific artificial dyes and additives.
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On Monday, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey (R-W.Va.) enacted House Bill 2354, which bans the manufacture and sale of foods with several widely used food dyes and preservatives in the state.
This legislation, passed by lawmakers on Monday morning, eliminates seven artificial dyes — Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, and Green Dye No. 3 — from food products and pharmaceuticals available in West Virginia. Additionally, it prohibits the use of the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben.
The law will also restrict the banned dyes from being part of school nutrition programs starting on August 1st of this year, while the dyes and preservatives will not be allowed in food and drugs sold in the state after January 1, 2028, according to the governor’s office.
“West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, making it an ideal place to spearhead the Make America Healthy Again initiative,” Morrisey stated, referencing the campaign promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is prioritizing the removal of artificial dyes from food products across the nation. “By removing harmful chemicals from our food supply, we take significant strides toward enhancing the health of our residents and safeguarding our children from potential long-term health issues.”
The ban will impact a variety of foods including Mountain Dew, Doritos, M&Ms, various Gatorade flavors, Minute Maid Lemonade, and numerous other items commonly found in retail stores.
This latest ban in West Virginia follows similar measures enacted in California in recent years to eliminate additives from food products statewide and to remove synthetic dyes from school meals.
Furthermore, several other states have proposed legislation aimed at banning or regulating particular food additives, including artificial dyes, since the start of this year, according to the Environmental Working Group, an organization dedicated to food safety advocacy.
Currently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) allows the use of 36 color additives in food and beverages in the U.S., which includes nine artificial dyes.
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