California may ban some food dyes in school meals. Will other states follow?

Consumer groups say it's past time to rid food of unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals

A new California bill takes aim at the use of food additives in school meals. On 12 March, Democratic state lawmaker Jesse Gabriel introduced a proposal that would prohibit the state's public schools from offering items that contain any of a medley of dyes and colorants.

The targeted additives may appear vaguely recognizable to anyone who's ever read an ingredients label: blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and the white pigment titanium dioxide. These substances can be found in a wide range of products, from brightly colored Froot Loops cereal and sports drinks to less obvious fare such as cake mix and canned peas.