Iowa Schools Move to Ban Margarine and Red Dye 40 in Food: What It Means for Your Kids’ Health

A bill in the Iowa House aims to stop schools from serving margarine and two food additives in their meals. Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Fairfield, is leading the charge on this proposal.

Shipley questions the safety of certain additives found in food. “These additives maybe don’t do anything or maybe they’re harmful,” he noted, suggesting they shouldn’t be in our food.

One additive mentioned is Red Dye 40. Made from petroleum, it has been allowed in food by the FDA since the 1970s. California plans to ban this dye, along with others, in school lunches starting in 2028. Shipley sees California’s approach as a model for Iowa. “We want to discuss this and see if Iowans support it,” he said.

Concerns about the food supply have been growing. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a prominent figure in food safety discussions, has voiced worries about American eating habits. The bill, which has already passed a subcommittee, would also eliminate margarine from school lunches.

Shipley believes it’s time for Iowa to re-evaluate its food choices. “The science around margarine has changed over the years, and there’s still debates happening. But we can agree that our current approach isn’t getting us the best results,” he said.

As for personal preferences, Shipley admits he “personally prefers butter” for its health benefits. The proposed bill would also ban Yellow Dye 7, a colorant used in soaps and cosmetics.

Interestingly, margarine isn’t naturally yellow; in fact, many states once required it to be colored pink or restricted its sale. Wisconsin even still has a rule that restaurants can’t serve margarine unless a customer requests it.