Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act

This bill would change the National School Lunch Program by banning ultraprocessed foods and school foods that contain certain additives and dyes. It points to the NOVA system’s “Group 4” to define ultraprocessed foods, and lists specific ingredients that would no longer be allowed, like potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, and several artificial colors (Yellow 5 and 6, Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, and Red 40). The goal is to make school meals healthier for kids by cutting out highly processed items and risky additives.

Key points

• Who is affected: Schools that serve meals through the National School Lunch Program; students who eat school meals; school food suppliers.
• What changes: No ultraprocessed foods (NOVA Group 4) and no foods with listed additives/dyes: potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, Yellow 5/6, Blue 1/2, Green 3, Red 3/40.
• Why it matters: Aims to offer safer, simpler ingredients in school meals and reduce kids’ exposure to certain chemicals and artificial colors at school.