Nebraska Banned Six Dyes From School Lunch. Lincoln Found Exactly One Item to Change.
When Lincoln Public Schools tells parents which item on the menu still contains artificial dye, the reaction is almost always the same. Andrew Ashelford, the district's nutrition services director, says parents respond with, "Wow, that's it?" The answer is the gelatin base used in the fruited gelatin cups.
That one item is the whole story in Nebraska's biggest district, and it matters for every student trying to get dyes out of their own cafeteria. This post covers what Nebraska's new law bans, why Lincoln's list turned out so short, and a simple way to run the same check at your school this month.
What Nebraska's LB940 Actually Bans
Nebraska's LB940 prohibits six artificial dyes: Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6. The ban takes effect August 1, 2027.
Nebraska joins a growing list of states moving on dyes in school food, including Arizona, Utah, and West Virginia. Each law has its own scope and timeline, so the details matter. What stays the same is the pattern: a date on the calendar, and districts that decide whether to start early or wait.
Why Lincoln's List Was So Short
Lincoln did not scramble at the last minute. The district worked with food manufacturers over several years to adapt what it serves while keeping meals that students actually recognize and eat.
The result: gelatin is the only menu item with artificial dyes, and it will be discontinued once the current supply runs out. Ashelford has also pointed out that natural options like beet extract can replace synthetic colors, so reformulating is realistic, not just theoretical.
The Lesson: Your Dye Problem Might Be Smaller Than Your District Thinks
The biggest barrier to action is often fear of the unknown. A nutrition director who has never counted the dyed items on the menu can easily assume the number is huge and the fix is expensive.
Lincoln shows what happens when someone actually counts. A short, specific list is much easier to act on than a vague worry. And a short list is a much easier thing to ask a school board to fix.
How to Run a Dye Audit at Your School
You do not need special access to get started. Here is a simple process any student can follow.
First, ask your school nutrition director for the ingredient lists of everything on the monthly menu. Many districts keep these on file, and a polite email is often enough. Second, scan each list for the six dye names, their numbers (Red 40, Yellow 5, and so on), and phrases like "color added" or "artificial color."
Third, check the usual suspects first: flavored gelatin, fruit snacks, flavored yogurts, sports drinks, cereals, and anything with bright frosting or sprinkles. Finally, write down what you find in a one-page list with the item, the dye, and how often it is served.
Questions to Bring to Your District
Once you have your list, the conversation gets practical. Ask which items contain dyes, whether suppliers already offer dye-free versions, and what it would take to switch before any legal deadline arrives.
Then ask the question that builds trust: will the district share the results publicly? Lincoln's openness is exactly why parents there came away surprised in a good way. Transparency turns a scary topic into a manageable one.
Start Early, Finish Early
Whether you live in Nebraska or not, the takeaway is the same. The districts that move before a deadline get to choose their own replacements and their own pace. The ones that wait get whatever the supplier has left.
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