When Canyons School District students sit down for breakfast or lunch after Aug. 17, items colored with Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 won't be on the menu.

A state law signed March 27, 2025, bans nine synthetic dyes and additives from food served during the school day at Utah public schools, and the ban takes effect with the 2026-2027 school year. Canyons District's Board of Education voted unanimously on June 16 to update its wellness policy in compliance with House Bill 402, according to board meeting records.

The nine banned substances are potassium bromate, propylparaben, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6. Research has linked several of these synthetic dyes to hyperactivity and behavioral concerns in children, according to a Utah House of Representatives summary of the legislation.

Rep. Kristen Chevrier, who sponsored HB 402, told Food Business News in March 2025 that parents asked her to carry the bill. "There were parents who came to me and asked if I would run the bill, but I also have children who are on very restrictive diets because they have allergies," Chevrier said. "So it was an easy sell for me because my kids can't eat a lot of things."

Gov. Spencer Cox signed the measure into law, making Utah the fourth state to restrict synthetic food dyes in schools after California, Virginia and West Virginia. At least 20 other states are considering similar bans, according to Food Business News.

What Sandy parents need to know

The ban covers school-served meals. It does not apply to food a parent packs for their own child.

Teachers who want to hand out classroom snacks containing any of the nine additives must get written permission from parents at the start of each semester, according to the Canyons District board summary outlining the policy change.

Schools can still sell items with the banned additives at concession stands during extracurricular events or in vending machines. The law does not apply to charter or private schools, and districts with 5,500 or fewer students are exempt.

How much will menus change?

Canyons District has not publicly detailed which specific products it removed. But Granite School District nutrition services director Buffy Swensen told Fox 13 on Aug. 6 that her district reviewed its menus last year and found little that needed to change. Doritos were one product pulled because of blue dye.

Emily Stembridge, a Utah parent who advocated for the legislation, told Fox 13 the transition should be smooth. "We're just trying to do a little better for our kids," Stembridge said.

As we reported Aug. 6, Canyons students will also face a new cellphone ban in classrooms and the district's first meal price increases since 2022-23 when school starts. Sandy Elementary families will continue to receive free meals.

Canyons District Nutrition Services Director Sebasthian Varas has not commented publicly on HB 402 compliance. The district's first day of school is Aug. 17.