Kristen Rogers, a jounalist for CNN Wellness, explains why synthetic food dyes are being banned by states across the country and how each state is taking action; Felicia Quintana-Zinn, associate director of health data with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, discusses...
Kristen Rogers, a jounalist for CNN Wellness, explains why synthetic food dyes are being banned by states across the country and how each state is taking action; Felicia Quintana-Zinn, associate director of health data with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, discusses the value of ASTHO’s Executive Leadership Forum and what makes it a unique opportunity; Dr. Dan Edney, ASTHO board member and state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, was featured on the first episode of the department’s new “Health Talk MS” podcast to discuss the state’s largest preventable health threats; and ASTHO just released a new podcast episode of Public Health Review on forming strong partnerships across state and local agencies to support adolescent health resources.
CNN News Article: What eliminating artificial food dyes could mean for the food system
ASTHO Facebook Post: ASTHO’s 2025 Executive Leadership Forum
Health Talk MS Podcast Web Page
ASTHO Public Health Review Episode: Partnering to Expand Adolescent Access to School Health Services
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, July 10, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KRISTEN ROGERS:
You may be surprised that some foods that aren't abnormally brightly coloredactually do contain dyes. Some people are realizing, "Oh my God, my favorite blueberry bagels, they have no blueberries. It's just blue food dye.
JOHNSON:
Synthetic food dyes are facing bans in various states across the country due to research that indicates they may have harmful effects on human health. CNN's Kristen Rogers has been following states' activity on food dyes.
ROGERS:
Most synthetic food dyes are made from petroleum, and petroleum has some compounds naturally occurring that have been linked to cancer or are already established carcinogens.
JOHNSON:
Rogers says that each state has taken a different approach to protect public health.
ROGERS:
While some states have banned artificial dyes statewide for everyone's health, other states seem to be either, a.) banning them from schools, since a lot of the human research is on children at this point, or b.) taking the approach of informed consent by requiring warning labels, then letting people decide for themselves.
JOHNSON:
Rogers says that although the initial bans were met with frustration from the food industry, growing public support for regulation has led to a shift in attitude.
ROGERS:
There's been a dramatic increase in the number of states pursuing the same restrictions. So, with such significant changes happening on the state level, food companies probably would have had to adapt anyway, since you can't make one product for California and West Virginia, and then another for the rest of the country.
JOHNSON:
For more on how legislatures are addressing synthetic food dyes, check out the articles linked in the show notes.
ASTHO's 2025 Executive Leadership Forum recently wrapped up with public health leaders from across the country exploring solutions for some of the field's most pressing challenges. Felicia Quintana-Zinn, with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, tells us more.
FELICIA QUINTANA-ZINN:
Every time I come, I learn something new. I get to know new people, new peers. We have opportunities to really talk with each other, talk about real-world situations that we're facing, or challenges, or wins, and some of the positive things that they are doing in their health departments or their states. And it helps with getting ideas of cool things that we can implement or different ways that we can go about doing things.
JOHNSON:
Quintana-Zinn says sharing information with her colleagues is extremely valuable.
QUINTANA-ZINN:
My favorite so far is meeting with my- one of my peer networks, being able to meet with the informatics and data modernization network has been awesome. Getting to hear what other challenges that they are seeing, wins that they have had, has been really great. And it's just a time to talk to people that experience the same types of day-to-day situations and just build a lot of camaraderie.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO's ELF is unique because it brings together so many different sectors,according to Quintana-Zinn.
QUINTANA-ZINN:
Most conferences, it's really just informatics or data modernization folks. You don't get all of the different players and their roles that- how they impact each other and some of the challenges that we run into, especially with data, because it's not just data. It affects all of the different areas, and it really does get affected by a lot of legislation, and a lot of legal opinions, and things like that.
JOHNSON:
Read more about ASTHO's 2025 Executive Leadership Forum in a Facebook post from ASTHO. We have a link in the show notes.
The Mississippi State Department of Health is using a popular communications channel to educate constituents about public health. The Department of Health has launched the "Health Talk MS" podcast and Dr. Dan Edney, ASTHO board member and the Mississippi state health officer, is featured in the first episode. Listen by clicking the link in the show notes.
Finally, make sure you check out ASTHO's new Public Health Review episode focused on strong partnerships across state and local agencies.
ALEXANDRA SONTAG:
So, in Chicago we are very lucky to have 33 school-based health centers and these are locations that are inside a school building that really have tailored their services towards young people.
JOHNSON:
Hear from experts like Alexandra Sontag with the Chicago Department of Public Health, along with leaders from Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois Department of Public Health, about the success they're seeing in adolescent health. A link to that episode is in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
Felicia Quintana-Zinn MS MBA
Associate Director, Health Data, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services