Tell Committee to Vote YES on HB 1853 Urgent TN Alert - Remove Dyes from Public School Food - Vote is Tomorrow (3/3/26)

Tell Committee to Vote YES on HB 1853

Remove additional food dyes from public school food in TN

House Bill 1853 (HB 1853) will be heard in the House Education Committee on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Last year, Tennessee took an important step to protect children’s health by passing a bill to remove Red 40 food dye from food served in public schools. This year, HB 1853 builds on that success by expanding current law to remove additional food dyes from foods served in Tennessee public schools.

HB 1853 would prohibit the use of the following artificial dyes in school nutrition programs in TN:

Red Dye No. 3, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, Green Dye No. 3

These petroleum-based synthetic dyes have been linked in scientific literature to behavioral concerns, hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and other health issues in children. Schools should be places that support learning, focus, and long-term health, not environments that expose children to unnecessary chemical additives.

ACTION TO TAKE

Call and email members of the House Education Committee and ask that they vote YES on HB 1853. Be sure to include where you live in Tennessee when you contact them; phone numbers re listed at the end. The Talking Points below can be used in your messages.

You may copy/paste the following block of addresses to email all committee members;

TALKING POINTS

1. If your child, or any child you know, have had issues from food dyes, please include this information when your email/call.

2. Tennessee has already acted to remove Red 40 from school meals. HB 1853 increases this protection of children’s health by removing additional dyes.

3. Artificial food dyes are not necessary for nutrition. They are added solely for cosmetic purposes. Children are uniquely vulnerable to chemical exposures and schools should provide clean, nourishing food that supports learning and healthy development.

4. Other states are taking similar steps to restrict synthetic dyes. Tennessee can continue to lead in protecting children’s health by passing HB 1853.

COMMITTEE MEMBER PHONE NUMBERS

House Education Committee

Rep Mark White 615-741-4415

Rep Kevin Raper 615-741-1350

Rep Jody Barrett 615-741-3513

Rep Charlie Baum 615-741-6849

Rep Gino Bulso 615-741-6808

Rep Scott Cepicky 615-741-3005

Rep Ronnie Glynn 615-741-2043

Rep Yusuf Hakeem 615-741-2702

Rep Kirk Haston 615-741-0750

Rep Tim Hicks 615-741-1717