North Carolina Healthy Schools Act

Reproduced from the official legislative record. Confirm the current text and status at the official source.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 874 Short Title: North Carolina Healthy Schools Act. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Almond, Chesser, and Winslow (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site. Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 10, 2025 *H874-v-1* A BILL TO BE ENTITLED1 AN ACT TO PROHIBIT SERVING ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.2 Whereas, childhood obesity, morbidity, and wellness are matters of statewide3 concern; and4 Whereas, ultra-processed, industrially manufactured, nutrient-depleted food with5 synthetic additives is under-nourishing minors at public schools and contributing to childhood6 obesity; and7 Whereas, any taxpayer-funded meal or snack program offered to minors at public8 schools in this state should be nutritious and made primarily of whole, minimally processed plant9 or animal products; Now, therefore,10 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:11

SECTION 1. Part 2 of Article 17 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended12 by adding the following new section to read:13 "§ 115C-264.6. Prohibition on ultra-processed foods.14 (a) Local boards of education shall not allow a school food authority or a third party to15 serve or sell ultra-processed food on school grounds during the school day.16 (b) The Department of Public Instruction shall create a standardized form through which17 a local board of education can certify that no ultra-processed foods are being served or sold in18 any school under jurisdiction of the board. The Department shall publish and maintain a list on19 its website of all public schools that are certified as not serving or selling ultra-processed foods.20 (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the parent or guardian of a21 student from providing the student ultra-processed foods during the school day.22 (d) For purposes of this section, "ultra-processed food" means any food or beverage that23 contains one or more of the following ingredients:24 (1) Potassium Bromate.25 (2) Propylparaben.26 (3) Titanium Dioxide.27 (4) Brominated Vegetable Oil.28 (5) Yellow Dye 5.29 (6) Yellow Dye 6.30 (7) Blue Dye 1.31 (8) Blue Dye 2.32 (9) Green Dye 3.33 (10) Red Dye 3.34 (11) Red Dye 40."35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Page 2 House Bill 874-First Edition

SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-150.12C is amended by adding a new subdivision to1 read:2 "(37) Prohibit ultra-processed foods. – Any nutrition services provided for by the3 board of trustees shall comply with the requirements of G.S. 115C-264.6."4 SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:5 "(23) Prohibit ultra-processed foods. – If a regional school provides a nutrition6 program, the program shall comply with the requirements of7 G.S. 115C-264.6."8 SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:9 "(p) Prohibit Ultra-Processed Foods. – If a charter school provides a nutrition program,10 the program shall comply with the requirements of G.S. 115C-264.6."11

SECTION 2.(d) G.S. 116-239.8(b)(4)c. reads as rewritten:12 "c. Food Nutrition services. – The laboratory school shall strive to ensure13 that one hundred percent (100%) muscadine grape juice is available to14 students as a part of the school's nutrition program or through the15 operation of the school's vending facilities. Upon request, the local16 school administrative unit in which the laboratory school is located17 shall administer the National School Lunch Program for the laboratory18 school in accordance with G.S. 115C-264.Part 2 of Article 17 of19 Chapter 115C of the General Statutes."20 SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with21 the 2025-2026 school year.22

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