By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill banning certain synthetic products found in food in West Virginia could be one of the first non-tax-related bills on the desk of Gov. Patrick Morrisey if the House of Delegates concurs with changes made to the bill by the state Senate Wednesday.
The Senate passed House Bill 2354, banning certain products from food in West Virginia, in a 31-2 vote, sending the bill back to the House for concurrence.
HB 2354 seeks to amend State Code regarding adulterated food and drugs, outlining specific additives included in many food products in the state, such as red dye No. 3 and yellow dye No. 5, deeming them unsafe. Other additives that would be prohibited include butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, red dye No. 40, yellow dye No. 6, blue dye No. 1, blue dye No. 2, and green dye No. 3.
The state Senate adopted an amendment offered by state Sen. Robbie Morris, R-Randolph, changing the effective date of the bill from Jan. 1, 2027, to Jan. 1, 2028.