Laws
Virginia school food dye law
Virginia passed matching House and Senate bills in 2025 that remove seven synthetic dyes from food in public schools, with two years to prepare.
Is this dye or additive banned in your state?
FD&C Red No. 40 in Virginia, November 5, 2026
Out of school food from July 1, 2027
| FDA | Allowed by FDA Listed for use in food. FDA asked industry in April 2025 to stop using it voluntarily; its tracker names the end of 2027 as the target. No revocation order. |
| school food | Enacted, not yet in effect HB 1910 and SB 1289 (2025), from July 1, 2027. |
FD&C Red No. 40, E129, CAS 25956-17-6. School rules cover food served or sold to students, not grocery shelves. Legal status only, not health advice.
All dye and additive rules in VirginiaVirginia enacted the same text twice in 2025, as House Bill 1910 and Senate Bill 1289, chapters 212 and 222 of the Acts of Assembly. They add section 22.1-207.4:3 to the Code of Virginia, which the Code itself marks as effective July 1, 2027. From that date, a school board may not serve, in a school breakfast or lunch or as a competitive food sold to students, any food containing Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 or Yellow 6. Competitive food is the federal term for snacks and drinks sold on campus outside the meal programs, such as vending machines and school stores. The law applies to public elementary and secondary schools. It does not cover private schools, food brought from home or stores, and it names dyes only, leaving out the preservatives that some other states added.
How long until a state rule starts?
Virginia, HB 1910 and SB 1289 (2025) (school food)
238 days left
| Starts | July 1, 2027 |
| Covers | 7 dyes or additives |
| Status today | Enacted, not yet in effect |
Laws and FDA orders read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The months before July 2027
Until the effective date, nothing in Virginia law restricts these dyes in schools. After the date, Red 40 and the other six dyes can still be sold in Virginia stores, subject to federal law. We did not find the governor's approval dates on the official site, so they are not shown; the chapter numbers confirm that the bills became law.
For a timeline that places Virginia among the other states, see the timeline.
Virginia rules on dyes and additives
| Law | Scope | Substances | From | Status today | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 1910 and SB 1289 (2025) | school food | Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 | July 1, 2027 | Enacted, not yet in effect | not stated |
Each tracked substance in Virginia
| Substance | FDA | All food sold | School food | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red 40 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Red 3 | FDA ban ordered, not yet in effect | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Yellow 5 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Yellow 6 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Blue 1 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Blue 2 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Green 3 | Allowed by FDA | no | Enacted, not yet in effect (July 1, 2027) | no |
| Citrus Red 2 | Still allowed; FDA proposed a ban | no | no | no |
| Orange B | Banned nationwide by FDA | no | no | no |
| BVO | Banned nationwide by FDA | no | no | no |
| Potassium bromate | Allowed by FDA | no | no | no |
| Propylparaben | Allowed by FDA | no | no | no |
| Titanium dioxide | Allowed by FDA | no | no | no |
| BHA | Allowed by FDA | no | no | no |