Iowa House Bill Would Ban Margarine, Red Dye 40 From Iowa School Meals

Des Moines, Iowa (RI)– A bill under consideration in the Iowa House would ban margarine and two food additives from the lunches and breakfasts served at Iowa schools.

Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Fairfield, is the lawmaker assigned to lead the discussion of the bill.

The bill mentions Red Dye number 40, which is made from petroleum. It’s one of a half dozen food dyes that will be banned from California school lunches starting in 2028.

Robert F. Kennedy, Junior — President Trump’s nominee to lead a key federal agency — has raised questions about the country’s food supply and the eating habits of Americans. The bill which has cleared a subcommittee in the Iowa House would ban the state’s schools from serving margarine to students.

Shipley says he personally prefers butter and the good, healthy fat that it provides. The bill as currently written also would ban Yellow Dye 7 which is used in soaps and cosmetics. Margarine, by the way, is not naturally yellow and many states had laws requiring margarine to be colored pink or banned the sale of yellow margarine. However, Wisconsin still bans restaurants from serving margarine unless the customer asks for it.

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