The legislation, passed by both chambers of the state legislature last month, delivers on issues important to federal Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including improving nutrition and physical activity for school children as well as reforming food stamps. “Iowa is an essential partner in the national movement to make America healthy again, as HHS advances reforms at the federal level,” Kennedy said at the bill signing ceremony in Des Moines. “Iowa is leading by improving nutrition, strengthening public health, and building a stronger future for American children and families.”
The bill, House File 2676, requires that the state apply for a federal waiver each year to exclude sugary beverages and junk food from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP. Iowa was one of the first states to apply for a food stamp reform voucher when Kennedy took office.
As part of broader reforms to promote health in childhood, the law prohibits school lunches from using eight artificial food dyes that have been a target of Kennedy and the Food and Drug Administration, such as Red Dye 40 and Yellow 5.
The legislation also requires that elementary school children in the fourth grade and below receive a minimum of 40 minutes of physical activity each day and limit screen time to 60 minutes each day.
