Starting this fall, Texas schools will no longer serve lunches containing certain food additives that have raised health concerns. The new law, SB 314, targets ingredients like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and red dye 3, among others.
Maggie Mae Kennedy, assistant director of school nutrition services at Spring Branch Independent School District, says school districts have been preparing for this change for a while.
“Parents have been pushing for this,” Kennedy explains. “In Spring Branch and other local districts, we work closely with our communities to understand what they want in their kids’ food — and what they don’t.”
This move is a big step for kids’ health, Kennedy adds, noting that Texas is catching up with other states that have already banned these additives. She also warns that some familiar foods might look a little different. “Macaroni and cheese isn’t going to look the same,” she says, “but it’s worth it for the health benefits.”
What Are These Banned Additives?
The law bans seven additives commonly found in processed foods:
- Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
- Potassium bromate
- Propylparaben
- Azodicarbonamide
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- Red dye 3
- Titanium dioxide
To understand why these ingredients are being removed, we spoke with Kristi King, a dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital. She explains that many of these additives are used to improve the look and shelf life of foods. “A lot of school meals rely on shelf-stable products,” King says, “so it’s important to look closely at what additives are in them.”
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King points out that some of the ingredients are already banned by the FDA.
King said much of the research on these additives comes from animal studies, which don’t always directly apply to human diets.
“For example, one banned additive was tested at levels equivalent to a teaspoon in 800 cups of flour,” King said.
While that is far more than a child would consume, she agrees that reexamining what’s in our food is a positive step for kids’ health.
Why School Food Policies Matter
School meals are a crucial source of nutrition for many children. King reminds us that the school lunch and breakfast programs were created because many kids rely on these meals for most of their daily calories.
“A child could get about two-thirds of their total daily calories from school meals,” she says.
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Parents can also rest assured that school meals must meet federal nutrition standards.
“School districts are doing the best they can within their budgets and guidelines,” King adds. “No parent should worry that school meals aren’t nutritious — they have to follow USDA rules.”
Kennedy also highlights how food manufacturers have been adapting recipes for years to meet school standards.
“If you buy a bag of Doritos at H-E-B and compare it to the same bag served in a school cafeteria, they’re different,” she says. “Manufacturers make adjusted recipes for schools.”
What This Means for Your Child
The law specifically requires these additives to be removed from free and reduced-price lunches. However, since schools often can’t prepare those meals separately and food vendors are being told to remove the additives altogether, this change will likely affect all Texas students’ lunches — if it hasn’t already.
Parents can expect to see these changes in their kids’ meals starting September 1, with some recipes looking a bit different.
This new law marks a significant step toward healthier school meals in Texas, reflecting growing community demand for cleaner, safer food for children.