() The state of West Virginia became the first state in America to ban seven artificial food dyes used in brightly colored cereals, drinks and candies last week.

This ban will start for meals served in school nutrition programs starting this August and go statewide starting on Jan. 1, 2028.

“What we’re asking of these large food companies is just to reformulate their product the same way that they’ve reformulated their product in European countries, where the same synthetic food dyes are either banned or a warning label is required on them,” Republican State Sen. Jason Barrett said on ” Live” on Thursday.

Constituents have told Barrett they are “extremely appreciative” and proud that West Virginia has been a “leader on this issue,” he said.

“Do I think that there should be 50 different statewide bands with that, that there aren’t the same?” Barrett asked. “No, I don’t, but we’ve relied on the FDA to make these decisions for us in the past, and they simply haven’t done it. And now I think it’s time for states to act.”

correspondent Anna Kooiman contributed to this report.