phoenix — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on April 14 signed into law the Arizona Healthy Schools Act, which bans food and beverages containing 11 ingredients in school meals. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, any public school that participates in a federally funded or assisted meal program shall not serve, sell or allow a third party to sell ultra-processed food on the school campus during the normal school day.
Arizona joins California, West Virginia, Virginia and Utah in enacting laws to restrict food served at school. Like the other four state laws, the Arizona law targets synthetic dyes: Yellow No. 5 and No. 6, Blue No. 1 and No. 2, Red No. 3 and No. 40, and Green No. 3. Other ingredients banned in the Arizona law are potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide and brominated vegetable oil. Ultra-processed, industrially manufactured, nutrient-depleted food with synthetic additives is under-nourishing minors at public schools and contributing to childhood obesity, according to the law.
Leo Biasiucci, a state representative, was the primary sponsor of the bill, which passed 59-0 in the House on Feb. 24 and 28-0 in the Senate on April 8. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., secretary of the US Health and Human Services, on April 8 attended a press conference at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix to promote the bill’s passing.
Biasiucci in an April 14 Facebook post said, “Breaking News! My bill, HB2164: banning of ultra-processed foods in school meals, was just signed into law in Arizona! #MAHA.”
Tom Horne, superintendent of the Arizona Department of Education, said, “This is a familiar crusade for me. In 2006, I was successful in getting sugared sodas out of schools, and I am very enthusiastic that this legislation has become law. We need to eliminate harmful foods from public schools and vending machines.”
