North Carolina House Bill 874, introduced on April 10, 2025, by Representative Jonathan Almond and five co-sponsors, bans ultra-processed foods in public schools, including traditional, charter, regional, and laboratory schools, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Ultra-processed foods are defined as those with ingredients like Potassium Bromate, artificial dyes (e.g., Yellow Dye 5, Red Dye 40), Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide, or Brominated Vegetable Oil. School boards must ensure no such foods are served or sold on school grounds during school hours, and the Department of Public Instruction will create a form to certify compliance and list compliant schools online. Parents can still send ultra-processed foods with their kids. The bill aims to fight childhood obesity by ensuring school meals and snacks are nutritious, made from whole, minimally processed ingredients.
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Movement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., supports this bill as a Pro-MAHA initiative because it removes harmful, nutrient-poor ultra-processed foods from school meals, aligning with MAHA’s mission to improve children’s health through better nutrition. By banning artificial additives and prioritizing whole foods, the bill supports Kennedy’s push to address diet-related health issues like obesity. It empowers schools to serve healthier meals, helping North Carolina’s kids grow stronger and supporting MAHA’s goal of building vibrant, well-nourished communities.
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