Will Idaho Join California On the Junk Food Band Wagon Ban?

ICYMI: America's public school cafeterias are leading the charge on the war against junk food. Remember the good ol’ days of munchin' on a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and washing it down with a squeezie bottle of mystery juice? Oh, what is was to be a '90s kid. Every snack on the grocery store shelves were fair game. 

Uncle Sam is cool with Flamin' Hots.

Interestingly, the FDA isn't a huge fan of Flamin' Hots either. It was recently determined the chips "are adulterated under section 402(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(2)(C)(i), because they bear or contain an unsafe food," still, the administration hasn't banned Flamin' Hots.

But public schools across the nation sure have! According to their school lunch menus, these fiery crisps are public enemy number one.

California hates Cheetos.

It was around 2010 when California started vocalizing its disdain for Flamin' Hot Cheetos and other popular snack foods. In 2023, the state outlawed the sale of food and beverages containing brominated vegetable oil and red dye 3. A year later, California lawmakers are pushing to expand the list of banned ingredients and synthetic dyes, effectively removing the products from public school cafeterias and vending machines.

The reason? A 2021 state study theorizing such foods are linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral problems in children.

If approved by the California Legislature, the bill would remove popular foods like Hot Cheetos, Doritos, M&Ms, sports drinks, some juices and sodas, Twinkies and sugary breakfast cereals like Froot Loops and Cap’n Crunch from public schools. -Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

Sorry, but cheetos aren't the problem, people. If California parents are looking for someone or something to blame their kids' out-of-control behavior on, Chester Cheetah isn't the fall guy. 

Idaho & the War on Junk Food

As the snack food bandwagon ban sweeps the nation, will Idaho be the next state to join? What do you think? Email your opinions to ryan.valenzuela@townsquaremedia.com.

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