Starting in around fourth or fifth grade, my mother began packing a home lunch for my brother and I before we went to school. I saw this as a saving grace at the time, as I thought the food we were fed through the cafeteria was absolutely repugnant.

A tray of school served lunch
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Seems I may have been ahead of my time, because now Arizona's asking to change school lunch policy for good.

What is House Bill 2164?

In the first session of the 2025 Arizona legislature, House Bill 2164 was sent to the floor. Drafted by Representative Le Biasiucci, this bill lays out a plan to make Arizona school lunches healthier, and safer, for the students at state funded schools.

A girl smiles as she holds up her lunch
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The bill specifically states that, if passed, school lunches "may not serve or sell ultraprocessed food on the school campus during the normal school day". It does make it clear however, that this is just affecting school-served lunches, and parents will still be allowed to send their child to school with whatever food they please.

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What is "Ultraprocessed Food"?

You'd be forgiven for not knowing what this means off of the top of your head, even our writing platform believes it's a misspelled word. It is a very real concern, and luckily, Rep. Biasiucci made sure to clarify on the bill what exactly he means.

Food is put through processing
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According to the bill, "Ultraprocessed" food is defined as containing one or more of the following ingredients:

  • Potassium Bromate
  • Propylparaben
  • Titanium Dioxide
  • Brominated Vegetable Oil
  • Yellow Dyes 5 & 6
  • Blue dyes 1 & 2
  • Green Dye 3
  • Red Dyes 3 & 40

The bill is currently moving through Arizona legislature, and if passed, could cause a massive shift in youth health across the Grand Canyon State.

[HB2164][Havasu News]

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