Virginia Decodedhttps://vacode.org35440422.1-207.4:3(Effective July 1, 2027) Nutritional standards for school meals and other foods; certain color additives prohibited2026EducationPrograms, Courses of Instruction and TextbooksPrograms and Courses of Instruction Generally

A. As used in this section: “Color additive” means any material not exempted pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 321(t)(1) that is a dye, pigment, or other substance made by a process of synthesis or similar artifice, or extracted, isolated, or otherwise derived, with or without intermediate or final change of identity, from a vegetable, animal, mineral, or other source and that when added or applied to a food, drug, or cosmetic, or to the human body or any part thereof, is capable of imparting color thereto.

“Competitive food” means the same as that term is defined in § 22.1-207.4.

B. No public elementary or secondary school shall offer or make available to any student any food served as a part of a school meal or any competitive food that contains any of the following color additives:

1. FD&C Blue No. 1 (CAS Reg. No. 3844-45-9);

2. FD&C Blue No. 2 (CAS Reg. No. 860-22-0);

3. FD&C Green No. 3 (CAS Reg. No. 2353-45-9);

4. FD&C Red No. 3 (CAS Reg. No. 16423-68-0);

5. FD&C Red No. 40 (CAS Reg. No. 25956-17-6);

6. FD&C Yellow No. 5 (CAS Reg. No. 1934-21-0); or

7. FD&C Yellow No. 6 (CAS Reg. No. 2783-94-0).

C. The Board shall amend its nutritional guidelines for competitive foods promulgated pursuant to § 22.1-207.4 in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2025, c. 212, 222.