Food ingredients banned in 2027

January 2027 is the biggest US food-additive enforcement year in history. Five separate laws (California AB 418, AB 2316, Illinois HB 2562, Virginia HB 1910, Texas SB 25) and the federal FDA Red Dye 3 reformulation deadline all take effect. Here\u2019s what changes.

2027 enforcement table

State / AuthorityLawEffectiveBans
CaliforniaAB 418 (Food Safety Act)January 1, 2027Red Dye 3, Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO), Potassium Bromate, Propylparaben
CaliforniaAB 2316 (school food)January 1, 2027 (full enforcement Dec 2027)Red Dye 3, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5, Yellow Dye 6, Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3
IllinoisHB 2562 (Illinois Food Safety Act)January 1, 2027Red Dye 3, Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO), Potassium Bromate, Propylparaben
TexasSB 25 (Make Texas Healthy Again)January 1, 202744 additives requiring warning labels: Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, BHA, BHT, titanium dioxide, and more
VirginiaHB 1910 (school food)July 1, 2027Red Dye 3, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5, Yellow Dye 6, Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3
Federal (FDA)Red Dye 3 reformulation deadlineJanuary 15, 2027Red Dye 3 (FD&C Red No. 3)

Already 2027-compliant: clean swaps

Audited products that meet California AB 418, Illinois HB 2562, and EU food-safety standards.

Audited CleanClean dye-free
Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn
Lesser Evil
Zero artificial dyes or preservatives — none of the Red 40 or Yellow 5 found in conventional microwave popcorn. Non-GMO verified.
$4–6/bag
Audited CleanKid-safe
Organic Cheddar Bunnies
Annie's
Free from artificial colors including Red 40 and Yellow 6, which are required to carry warning labels in the EU. USDA Organic certified.
$5–7/box
Audited CleanEU-grade
Original Grain-Free Granola
Simple Mills
No BHA, BHT, or TBHQ preservatives — synthetic antioxidants restricted or banned in Japan and the UK. Made with whole almonds and seeds.
$9–11/bag
Audited CleanClean dye-free
Dark Chocolate Chips
Lily's
Sweetened with stevia instead of high-fructose corn syrup, which is restricted in many EU products. No artificial colors.
$6–8/bag
Audited CleanEU-grade
Chocolate Bark Crackers
Hu Kitchen
No TBHQ, no BHT, no artificial preservatives of any kind. Clean ingredients only — aligns with EU additive standards.
$7–9/box
Audited CleanPregnancy-safe
Simple Squares Almond Honey Bar
Simple Squares
No sodium nitrite, artificial colors, or preservatives of concern. 6 ingredients total — ideal for pregnancy-safe snacking.
$3–4/bar
Audited CleanKid-safe
Organic Veggie Straws
Garden of Eatin'
Free from artificial dyes including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, common in conventional veggie straw brands. USDA Organic.
$4–6/bag
Audited CleanPregnancy-safe
Squeezable Fruit Pouches
Once Upon a Farm
Cold-pressed, no added sugars, no artificial preservatives. Free from the high-fructose corn syrup found in most fruit snacks.
$2–3/pouch

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Frequently asked

What is banned in food in 2027?

January 2027 is the biggest US food-additive enforcement year. The FDA’s Red Dye 3 ban (announced Jan 2025) takes full effect. California AB 418 bans Red 3, BVO, potassium bromate, and propylparaben statewide. Illinois HB 2562 mirrors AB 418. California AB 2316 bans 7 dyes in school food. Virginia HB 1910 bans 7 dyes in school food. Texas SB 25 requires warning labels on 44 additives.

Is Red 40 banned in 2027?

Not federally. Red 40 will be banned from California and Virginia public schools in 2027. Texas will require warning labels on Red 40 products. All other states still allow Red 40 without restrictions.

When does California AB 418 take effect?

January 1, 2027. AB 418 bans Red Dye 3, BVO, potassium bromate, and propylparaben in all food sold in California.

Will manufacturers reformulate or pull products from California?

Manufacturers almost always reformulate. Maintaining a California-only SKU is more expensive than reformulating the national product. AB 418 effectively becomes the de facto national standard.

What is California AB 2316?

AB 2316 (signed September 2024) bans 7 synthetic dyes — Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3 — from food served in California public schools starting January 2027.

Does Texas SB 25 actually ban anything?

SB 25 doesn’t outright ban additives — it requires warning labels on 44 additives banned/restricted in other countries (EU, UK, Canada, Australia). The warning label requirement is so onerous that manufacturers will likely reformulate rather than label.

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