North Carolina Healthy Schools Act.

HB 874, the North Carolina Healthy Schools Act, prohibits public schools from serving or selling ultra-processed foods containing specific synthetic additives (like artificial dyes and preservatives such as Yellow Dye 5 or Potassium Bromate) during the school day. It directly affects all North Carolina public schools, including district, regional, and charter schools, requiring them to certify compliance with the ban through the Department of Public Instruction. Schools must submit certification forms, and the Department will publish a list of compliant schools online. The ban takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, though parents may still provide such foods for their children.