Tennessee School Food Dye Ban
Summary
Tennessee enacted SB2423 prohibiting Local Education Agencies and public charter schools from selling or providing foods containing seven specified artificial dyes (Allura Red AC, Erythrosine B, Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Erioglaucine disodium salt, Indigo carmine, Fast Green FCF) through school nutrition programs. The law, signed by Governor on March 25, 2026 and effective April 2, 2026, amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.
What changed
Tennessee SB2423 enacts a ban on seven specific artificial food dyes in school nutrition programs statewide. The prohibition applies to all Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools, which are prohibited from selling, offering for sale, or providing any food or beverage item containing Allura Red AC, Erythrosine B, Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Erioglaucine disodium salt, Indigo carmine, or Fast Green FCF on school property through school nutrition programs. The bill passed with strong legislative support (Senate 27-3, House 71-5) and was signed into law as Public Chapter 619.
School nutrition program administrators and food service directors must immediately audit current food inventories and supply chains to identify and remove products containing the seven banned dyes before the April 2, 2026 effective date. Food manufacturers and distributors serving Tennessee schools should review product formulations and labeling. LEAs should update procurement policies and vendor requirements to reflect the new restrictions. Non-compliance may result in enforcement actions under state education and health regulations.
What to do next
- Audit school nutrition program inventories for products containing Allura Red AC, Erythrosine B, Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Erioglaucine disodium salt, Indigo carmine, or Fast Green FCF
- Update procurement policies and vendor requirements to exclude foods containing the seven banned artificial dyes
- Notify food suppliers and distributors of the new restrictions for products sold in Tennessee schools
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Tennessee / SB2423 Effective Date SB2423 Senate Bill Effective Date 2026-04-02
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to school nutrition.
As enacted, prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains Allura Red AC; Erythrosine B; Tartrazine; Sunset Yellow FCF; Erioglaucine disodium salt; Indigo carmine; or Fast Green FCF. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.
Bill Details
State Tennessee
Session 114th General Assembly
Chamber Senate
Official Source wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?...
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Sponsors
Rusty Crowe (Sen - R) Edward Jackson (Sen - R) John Stevens (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-02 Effective date(s) 03/25/2026 2026-04-02 Pub. Ch. 619 2026-03-25 S Signed by Governor. 2026-03-13 S Transmitted to Governor for action. 2026-03-12 H Signed by H. Speaker 2026-03-11 S Enrolled and ready for signatures 2026-03-09 H Passed H., Ayes 71, Nays 5, PNV 15 2026-03-09 H Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0591) 2026-03-09 H Subst. for comp. HB. 2026-02-26 H Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. 2026-02-24 S Sponsor(s) Added. 2026-02-23 S Engrossed; ready for transmission to House 2026-02-23 S Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3, PNV 1 2026-02-23 S Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0497) 2026-02-20 S Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/23/2026 2026-02-18 S Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1 2026-02-11 S Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/18/2026 2026-02-05 S Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee 2026-02-02 S Introduced, Passed on First Consideration 2026-02-02 S Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-02-18 SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1 Yea: 8 Nay: 0 2026-02-23 FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration Yea: 27 Nay: 3 2026-03-09 FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION Yea: 71 Nay: 5 2026-03-09 FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION Yea: 56 Nay: 32
Committee Referrals
2026-02-05 S Education 2026-02-18 S Calendar
Amendments
2026-02-19 SA0497
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-02 Draft 2026-03-27 Chaptered
Subjects
Food and Food Products Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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