Committee advances bill to bar seven synthetic food dyes from school meals

Senate Bill 187, which would prohibit seven synthetic food dyes from public school meals in Alaska, was advanced out of the House Education Committee by unanimous consent on May 4 after a brief sponsor recap and no objections.

“For the record, Bill Wilkowsk, state senator representing East Anchorage,” the sponsor said when he introduced the bill and gave a short overview. He told the committee the bill would prohibit seven synthetic food dyes in school breakfast and lunch programs and argued the dyes provide no nutritional value while carrying health risks.

“These 7 dyes have seen extensive research acknowledged by the FDA, linking them to hyperactivity and attentiveness, reproductive issues, rare but life threatening allergic reactions, and cancer,” Sen. Wilkowsk said, presenting the bill’s rationale and noting that produce-based dye substitutes exist. He told the committee that districts surveyed indicated implementation would not be a burden and pointed to similar actions in other states.

Representative Andy Story moved SB 187 (identified in committee as 34-LS-0846) from committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations; with no objections, the committee advanced the bill from committee. The committee did not take a roll-call vote or provide a vote tally on the record during this meeting.

Next steps: SB 187 moves out of committee with attached fiscal notes and recommendations and will proceed according to the legislative scheduling process; committee members were asked to remain after adjournment to sign the committee report.