What is the Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act?

Today, more than two-thirds of the calories American children consume come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) — products linked to higher risks of obesity, diabetes, and even mental health issues.

Concerned about the growing health crisis, Congressman Michael Kennedy has introduced a bill that would ban schools from serving UPFs. It would also ban foods that contain certain additives.

Here, we explain the details, which additives are on the list, and whether the bill is likely to improve the health of school meals. We also outline how you can make healthier choices for your family.

First, let’s explain what UPFs are.

What are UPFs and NOVA?

In the bill document, it suggests updating the existing Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to prohibit schools from serving “ultra-processed foods (as described in group 4 of the NOVA classification system).”

The NOVA classification system determines the level of processing that a food has undergone. There are four categories:

• Unprocessed or minimally processed foods: This includes washed and bagged spinach, pre-cut fresh fruit, or frozen vegetables. 

• Processed culinary ingredients: This includes things like oil, butter, sugar, salt, dried herbs, and spices. 

• Processed foods: Created by adding sugar, oil, fat, salt, and other culinary ingredients to minimally processed foods. These include cheese, tofu, and homemade bread.

• Ultra-processed foods: These are industrially created using ingredients that you wouldn't find in your kitchen. They include candy, fast food, energy bars, and soda.

What’s wrong with UPFs?

Over the years, scientists have investigated the health effects of UPFs in large studies. 

Many of these studies conclude that consuming large amounts of UPFs is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, mental health conditions, and more.

It would also be incredibly challenging: As it stands, around 54% of the calories in the average U.S. diet come from UPFs, and that percentage is even higher for children. 

Are all UPFs bad?

The NOVA classification system has been very useful for nutrition researchers, but it was never designed to rate the health impact of food. It was primarily a tool to assess the level of processing alone.

For instance, one recent study involved data from more than 200,000 people. It showed that some UPFs, like soda and processed meats, were linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

However, other UPFs, including bread and cereals, were linked to a reduced risk. You can read more about this new research and similar studies here.

Which additives would the bill ban?

The Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act would ban the serving of food containing these additives:

• Potassium bromate: A flour improver used in baked products.

• Propylparaben: A preservative.

• Brominated vegetable oil: A stabilizer that stops citrus flavorings from separating in drinks.

The bill would also ban foods containing these eight colorants:

• titanium dioxide

• yellow dye 5

• yellow dye 6

• blue dye 1

• blue dye 2

• green dye 3

• red dye 3

• red dye 40

All of the above have been linked to health risks. So, removing them from school meals is a step in the right direction for children’s health.

But there are many other additives linked to poorer health that aren’t on this list, like certain emulsifiers, so there is still some way to go.

What can you do?

ZOE is a science and nutrition company. Our goal is to improve the health of millions by helping people navigate their confusing food landscape.

When you go into a grocery store, how do you know what’s healthy and what’s not? We recently conducted a questionnaire, and it’s clear that many of us are confused by the choices available.

For instance, we found that 83% of Americans want to choose healthier options, but almost half don’t always know what’s healthy.

This isn’t surprising — food manufacturers add health claims to their packaging, like “natural,” “low fat,” or “high protein.” We call this a “health halo.”

Despite these claims, these products are often high in salt, sugar, or unhealthy fats and might contain a raft of additives.

It unwraps misleading food marketing and gives you real answers based on the latest science. It allows you to cut through the health halos and understand whether a food item is likely to support or hinder your health.

The additives listed in the Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act all come with a warning in ZOE’s Risk Scale for Processed Foods, but the app also includes many other additives that may carry health risks.

ZOE’s free app will help you choose foods to feed your family with confidence. It categorizes each item into five easy-to-understand categories: 

1. Unprocessed

2. No Risk

3. Low Risk

4. Significant Risk

5. Highest Risk

Not only will it help you avoid potentially harmful foods, but it will also help you choose products that will support your health as part of a well-rounded healthy diet. Rather than having to throw out all UPFs, you can choose with confidence.

Summary

The Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act seeks to remove all UPFs and some additives from school meals. This is a positive move with good intentions.

However, because the NOVA classification system is limited, it might mean that some foods that support health — like fortified, high-fiber products — are banned from schools.

In practice, this could create real challenges for schools. Affordable, nutrient-dense staples like fortified breakfast cereals, enriched whole grain breads, or certain plant-based milks could be excluded under a strict UPF ban, even though they offer important vitamins and fiber. 

Schools, already operating under tight budgets, might struggle to find acceptable replacements that meet both nutrition standards and cost requirements.

Worse, it could unintentionally widen nutrition gaps if lower-income districts can't afford healthier whole-food alternatives at scale.

The act also focuses on a select few additives that should be removed from schools, but it doesn't mention some, like emulsifiers.

If you want clarity on the right kinds of foods to feed yourself and your family, ZOE’s free app and Risk Scale for Processed Foods can be your science-backed guiding light.