PHILADELPHIA, PA — Aramark Student Nutrition (NYSE: ARMK) is removing a range of artificial dyes and food additives from menus served through the National School Lunch Program as states enact stricter nutrition standards and schools face growing scrutiny over ingredients in student meals.
The company announced updates to its 2026-27 school year menus following a review of products used across its school nutrition programs, a move designed to align meal offerings with emerging state requirements and evolving federal nutrition standards.
Among the ingredients being eliminated are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole, titanium dioxide, and several synthetic food colorings, including Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Blue 2.
Aramark indicated it worked with suppliers to identify reformulated products or replacement items intended to preserve familiarity and taste for students while meeting updated ingredient standards.
The menu changes follow consumer research conducted in 2025 involving nearly 90,000 students and parents. According to the company, respondents expressed interest in greater ingredient transparency, lower sugar and sodium content, and meals made with simpler ingredients.
“In 2025 alone, feedback from nearly 90,000 students and parents nationwide reinforced our direction in providing greater ingredient transparency, lower sugar and sodium, and school meals made from simple ingredients,” Brisbane Vaillancourt, president and chief executive officer of Aramark Student Nutrition, stated.
The company also cited broader efforts in recent years to reduce added sugars and sodium levels, increase whole grains, and limit artificial ingredients in school meals.
Supporting the transition is PRIMA, Aramark’s proprietary menu management platform, which the company uses to develop menus, track costs, and monitor regulatory compliance. The system incorporates AI-powered tools designed to assist with purchasing and menu planning decisions.
“Our goal is to help schools move forward with confidence,” Beth Ann Engelland, vice president of operational excellence and marketing for Aramark Student Nutrition, stated. “This work reflects the discipline we bring to every menu decision — asking hard questions about ingredients, doing the detailed review, and making changes that stand up over time.”
The menu overhaul comes as policymakers in multiple states consider or implement restrictions on certain food additives and synthetic dyes, increasing pressure on school meal providers to adapt ingredient sourcing and product selection.
Aramark reported that 17 school districts it serves received a combined 24 USDA Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards in 2025. The company provides food and nutrition services to school districts nationwide.
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