HB1014: HB1014 Education; prohibit private and public primary and secondary schools from serving or selling, or allowing a third party to serve or sell, food or beverages that contain certain synthetic dyes

This bill targets synthetic food dyes commonly used in snacks, candy, and drinks. Starting January 1, 2027, it would prohibit every private and public primary and secondary school in Georgia from serving or selling, or letting any outside vendor serve or sell, food or beverages containing any of seven named synthetic dyes (including Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) on school grounds during the school day or through school meal programs. Schools could still sell noncompliant items at fundraisers if the sale happens off school property, or on campus at least half an hour after school ends. The bill also changes Georgia's broader food safety law (O.C.G.A. Title 26). It adds selling food under a misleading invented name to the list of prohibited acts. Starting January 1, 2028, it would classify any food containing those same seven dyes, plus butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, as 'adulterated' under state law, extending the dye restriction beyond schools to food sold anywhere in Georgia.

• Bans Georgia primary and secondary schools, public and private, from serving or selling food or drinks with seven specified synthetic dyes starting January 1, 2027.
• Extends the school ban to third-party vendors, meaning outside companies cannot sell dye-containing food on campus either.
• Allows schools to sell noncompliant food at fundraisers only if sold off campus, or on campus at least 30 minutes after the school day ends.
• Adds a new prohibited act to Georgia's food adulteration law: selling food under an invented name that misrepresents its ingredients.
• Classifies food containing the same seven synthetic dyes, plus butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, as adulterated under state law statewide starting January 1, 2028.

Public and private K-12 schools and their food service programs, third-party food and beverage vendors that sell on school campuses, school fundraising organizers, food manufacturers and retailers statewide, and ultimately students and consumers who eat products containing the listed dyes and additives.

Students would lose access to snacks and drinks containing common synthetic dyes at school starting in 2027, affecting cafeteria menus, vending machines, and fundraisers. By 2028, the dye restriction would apply to food sold anywhere in Georgia, potentially requiring manufacturers and stores to reformulate or pull certain products from shelves statewide.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 20-2-779.5, defining seven synthetic dyes by name and CAS registry number and banning their sale or service in K-12 schools starting January 1, 2027.
• Section 1 creates a fundraiser exception allowing sale of noncompliant food off school premises or on premises at least half an hour after the school day ends.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 26-2-22 to add selling food under a misleading invented name to the list of prohibited acts under state food law.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 26-2-26 to declare food 'adulterated' if it contains butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, or any of the seven listed synthetic dyes, effective January 1, 2028.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-16House Hopper (House)

• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)Primary sponsor
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Dexter Sharper (D, HD-177)

• food dyes
• school meals
• student health
• food safety regulation
• food additives