Food Chemical Bans · Virginia
Virginia School Food Dye Ban
SB 1289 / HB 1910 - enacted in Virginia.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2025
- Enacted
- 8
- States with food chemical bans laws
- 59/100
- Virginia strictness
The bottom line
Virginia School Food Dye Ban is an enacted law in Virginia, part of a still-emerging food chemical bans landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2027-07-01
- 8
- states have food chemical bans laws
- 8/11
- food chemical bans laws enacted nationally
- 59/100
- Virginia strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Virginia legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Virginia School Food Dye Ban
Virginia School Food Dye Ban (SB 1289 / HB 1910) is an enacted law in Virginia under the Food Chemical Bans category. It was enacted on 2025-03-20 and becomes effective on 2027-07-01. Virginia currently reports 4 tracked regulations with 4 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 59/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 8 food chemical bans statutes have been enacted and 3 additional bills remain pending - 8 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Virginia within a still-emerging food chemical bans landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in SB 1289 / HB 1910 itself.
Applicability under Virginia School Food Dye Ban: Public schools in Virginia. Penalty exposure is documented as: VA Dept of Education enforcement. Notable exemptions: Food from home. Not retail sales..
Summary
Bans seven synthetic dyes from school food.
Key Requirements
Schools cannot offer food with Blue 1/2, Green 3, Red 3/40, Yellow 5/6.
Penalties
VA Dept of Education enforcement.
Applicability
Public schools in Virginia.
Exemptions
Food from home. Not retail sales.
Official Source
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?251+ful+SB1289ER2How Virginia compares on food chemical bans
8 states regulate food chemical bans - Virginia ranks #6 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Texas | 69 |
| 3 | Illinois | 62 |
| 4 | New York | 62 |
| 5 | Delaware | 59 |
| 6 | Virginia (this state) | 59 |
| 7 | Utah | 55 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 31 |
| 9 | Arizona | 28 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 28 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have food chemical bans regulations?
As of the last verification, 8 states have enacted food chemical bans regulations, with 3 additional bills pending across other states. Virginia is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all food chemical bans regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Virginia School Food Dye Ban enacted?
Virginia School Food Dye Ban was enacted on 2025-03-20 and became effective on 2027-07-01. It was introduced as SB 1289 / HB 1910.
What are the penalties for violating Virginia School Food Dye Ban?
VA Dept of Education enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Virginia School Food Dye Ban apply to small businesses?
Public schools in Virginia. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Virginia compare to other states on food chemical bans?
Virginia has a regulatory strictness score of 59/100, based on 4 enacted regulations out of 4 tracked. Nationally, 8 states have enacted food chemical bans laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Virginia School Food Dye Ban?
The official text of Virginia School Food Dye Ban (SB 1289 / HB 1910) is available from the Virginia legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Virginia Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for food chemical bans compliance.
- Virginia School Food Dye Ban is enacted in Virginia, effective 2027-07-01. Official source
- 8 states now regulate food chemical bans; Virginia ranks #6 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Virginia tracks across all five policy areas. Virginia profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Virginia source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.