West Virginia Enacts Nation's Most Comprehensive Ban on Artificial Food Dyes

Governor Patrick Morrisey signs legislation banning seven dyes and two preservatives, with phased implementation starting in 2025.

The law, signed on March 24, 2025, bans seven artificial food dyes and two preservatives, citing health risks, particularly for children.
School meal restrictions on the banned additives will begin on August 1, 2025, with a full ban on food and drugs effective January 1, 2028.
Introduced by Republican State Rep. Adam Burkhammer, the legislation passed with bipartisan support and is the most extensive of its kind in the U.S.
The ban aligns with a broader push led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to eliminate synthetic additives nationwide.
West Virginia's move surpasses California's earlier measures and could influence similar legislation being considered in at least 20 other states.