AZ Healthy Schools Act: What Families Need to Know
AZ Healthy Schools Act: What Families Need to Know
At Marana Unified School District, the health and well-being of our students remains a top priority. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Arizona's new Healthy Schools Act (A.R.S. 15-242.01) will introduce new requirements for foods available on school campuses.
The law is designed to help students stay healthy by limiting access to certain ultra-processed foods in schools participating in federally funded meal programs.
What Does the Arizona Healthy Schools Act Do?
The Arizona Healthy Schools Act prohibits public schools participating in federal meal programs from serving, selling, or allowing third parties to sell ultra-processed foods on school campuses during the regular school day.
The law applies to food provided or sold through:
- School meals and cafeterias
- Vending machines
- School stores
- Snack bars
- Fundraisers held during the school day
- Classroom celebrations and rewards
- Catering services
- Any other food provided or delivered on campus
Please note: The law does not apply to food parents pack for their own child.
Which Ingredients Are Restricted?
The law defines ultra-processed foods as those containing one or more of the following ingredients:
- Potassium bromate
- Propylparaben
- Titanium dioxide
- Brominated vegetable oil
- Yellow Dye 5 or Yellow Dye 6
- Blue Dye 1 or Blue Dye 2
- Green Dye 3
- Red Dye 3 or Red Dye 40
What This Means for Marana USD Families
To comply with the new state requirements, the following will not be permitted during the regular school day:
- Serving or selling foods that contain banned ingredients
- Providing foods with banned ingredients for classroom parties or celebrations
- Food deliveries from restaurants, delivery services, or other third-party vendors
- Visitors, volunteers, or others dropping off food for students
Parents may continue to bring lunch or snacks for their own child.
Learn More
For additional information about the Arizona Healthy Schools Act, please visit: