Ep 904: Childhood Obesity Report, States Act on Food Dyes

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, May 12, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

RITA CONDON: 

So, this gives kind of a snapshot of childhood obesity rates across our state. Measurements are taken between the beginning of the school year and Thanksgiving every year, so we're getting right in when our kindergarten and third grade students are entering those grades.

JOHNSON: 

Welcome to a new week. Today, we look at how New Mexico is using data and creative programs to reduce childhood obesity. Rita Condon is with the New Mexico Department of Health discussing the agency's annual Childhood Obesity Update. Condon explains how this data is then used to inform investments in health programs and resources across the state.

CONDON: 

We share our childhood obesity update across our state to our state lawmakers, our school district leaders, our local leaders, and they're able to use these data to invest in equipment and programming that can improve school nutrition and physical activity environments.

JOHNSON: 

Programs like school gardens are also making a difference in helping children connect with their food.

CONDON: 

And it really does make a difference to have someone who's interested in teaching kids about where their food comes from and how to grow it. And children, if they have a chance to see what a seed grows into and then try what's grown, they're more likely to eat it.

JOHNSON: 

Initiatives like the New Mexico Grown grant are boosting access to healthy local food and supporting the state's economy.

CONDON: 

So, when schools have that extra funding to buy local, that not only helps have more nutritious food grown in our state, it doesn't have to be transported across the country or from other places around the world, which supports our farming, agricultural, and ranching economies.

JOHNSON: 

In other news, states are increasingly taking action on the use of certain food additives and dyes. ASTHO's Andy Baker-White has been tracking this legislative trend and authored a brand new report.

ANDY BAKER-WHITE: 

So, this article is looking at some recent state legislation related to the banning or limiting of the use of certain food additives and food dyes. We noticed that several states were interested in this topic this year, and that there have been quite a bit of bills introduced in legislatures this year. So, we've taken a look into that issue.

JOHNSON: 

Baker-White outlines the different types of legislation states are considering.

BAKER-WHITE: 

One is basically a statewide, or really universal ban of the use of certain additives or dyes within food. The next kind is bans on certain additives, food dyes in foods that are served or sold at schools. And then the third kind of legislation that we've been seen in this area are a few bills that would require warning labels or notifications when these substances are contained within foods.

JOHNSON: 

Several states have already enacted such bans this year, with more action expected.

BAKER-WHITE: 

But this year we've really seen an increase in states taking this type of action. So far, we've seen Virginia, West Virginia, and Utah also add bans to dyes in food. Utah's law is supposed to take effect, actually, on May 7 of this year, so really making it the earliest state to try to implement this type of legislation.

JOHNSON: 

That report is on the ASTHO website now. Access it easily by using the link in the show notes.

Also, we know you like to be prepared, so make sure to join ASTHO next week, on Thursday, May 22 at 3 p.m. ET for an INSPIRE: Readiness webinar. This class will be focused on using regional data in public health decision-making. The Utah Population Database experts will be there to talk about combining multiple data sources for a more actionable understanding. Head to the link in the show notes to sign up.

Finally, today, a big congratulations to ASTHO alum, Dr. Anne Zink, on her appointment to the Steering Committee for the Vaccine Integrity Project. It's a new initiative that aims to safeguard vaccination utilization in the U.S. Zink served as ASTHO president and is the former state health officer for the State of Alaska. You can find more information on that project 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.