Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Rep. Kristen Chevrier introduces bills to help make Utahns healthier.
- HB402 bans certain food dyes in Utah school meals starting 2026-2027.
- HB403 restricts people from using SNAP benefits to buy candy and soda, but faces criticism.
SALT LAKE CITY — A new Utah lawmaker is pushing bills aimed at eating healthy.
HB402 would prohibit schools from serving food with certain food dyes in them, while HB403 would not allow candy or soda to be purchased with SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps.
Both bills are sponsored by Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, who was recently elected to fill a vacancy in the Utah House of Representatives.
"My desire with this," Chevrier told KSL-TV, "is to help make people more healthy."
Chevrier said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding should be used to buy healthy food. Her bill would specify that candy and soft drinks are not eligible purchases under that program for low-income families.
"Nobody's telling them what they can or can't buy with their own dollars," Chevrier said. "We're just saying this is what the government money is going to pay for."
The bill is opposed by Utahns Against Hunger, which said it seems more "mean-spirited" than driven by policy.
"It's very paternalistic to limit what people can buy with their SNAP benefits," said Gina Cornia, the organization's executive director, while noting the bill also has problems with defining what counts as candy or soft drinks. "What we know improves people's diets and their nutrition choices is having more resources."
Cornia added the bill appears to be patterned after others around the country that are pushed by the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability.
Chevrier's other proposal would forbid schools in Utah from serving "ultraprocessed" food that contains certain food dyes – including blue dye, green dye, red dye, and yellow dye – and other ingredients.
"A lot of people are seeing the studies that have come out recently on the dangers of food dyes for children," Chevrier said, "and so I'm thinking a good first step to solving that problem is to take it out of school food."
The bill would apply to school breakfasts and lunches as well as vending machines, Chevrier said. If passed, it would take effect starting the 2026-2027 school year.
The Utah State Board of Education does not have a position yet on the bill, a spokesperson told KSL-TV on Wednesday.
Both bills have just been introduced in the Legislature. Neither one is scheduled yet for a committee hearing. The session ends March 7.
