"When school starts in West Virginia next month, 240,000 students in districts large and small will notice something missing from their cafeteria trays.

Gone will be red Jell-O fruit cups, yogurt topped with brightly hued sprinkles and and older verisons of Cool Ranch Doritos — all foods made with synthetic dyes.

In their place will be foods that contain colors made only from natural sources — such as vegetables, spices and seeds — after West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a sweeping new law in March banning seven artificial dyes from school meals.

Other states have enacted similar laws that would strip artificial dyes from school meals, but West Virginia’s action is the first to take effect, starting Aug. 1. It triggered a four-month sprint that that left state and local nutrition directors reeling."

Jonel Aleccia reports for the Associated Press July 31, 2025. [2]