Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bipartisan health bills into law on Aug. 27, marking one of the most sweeping state nutrition reform efforts in the United States.
Senate Bill 25 mandates warning labels on foods with synthetic dyes like Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3, starting in 2027. The label will cite international health standards as a reference.
Senate Bill 314 bans specific additives (e.g., brominated vegetable oil, titanium dioxide) in school meals, while Senate Bill 379 prohibits SNAP recipients from purchasing sweetened drinks and candy.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Abbott at the signing, praising Texas as a national leader in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
Despite the reforms, Kennedy highlighted Texas' poor health insurance coverage and urged further action to advance his broader public health agenda.
Senate Bill 25, which mandates that packaged foods sold in Texas display warning labels if they contain synthetic food dyes, including Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3. These additives have come under increased scrutiny for potential behavioral and health effects, especially in children. Beginning in 2027, products with these synthetic food dyes will be required to display a label stating, "WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom." (Related: Kraft Heinz removes SYNTHETIC DYES from its products, aligning with MAHA initiative.)
Senate Bill 314, which prohibits schools participating in the National School Lunch Program from serving items that contain certain controversial additives, including brominated vegetable oil and titanium dioxide, substances banned or restricted in multiple countries.
Senate Bill 379, which codifies a previous executive order by Abbott, banning the purchase of sweetened beverages and candy using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps.
"Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund chronic health problems in our state," Abbott said during the signing ceremony in Austin, Texas.
RFK Jr. applauds Texas' bold reforms but urges more action
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and leaders from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which helped craft the bills, joined Abbott during the signing ceremony.
"There are no states, with the possible exception of Louisiana, that have done more far-reaching legislation than this. And there's no state that fought a harder battle to get here," Kennedy said during the signing ceremony, adding that Texas is leading the nation.
Brighteon.AI's Enoch describes Kennedy as someone committed to prioritizing safety and transparency in public health, advocating for a shift away from the influence of Big Pharma. His balanced approach seeks to address concerns about harmful substances in vaccines while ensuring the health and well-being of all Americans.