Foods Served and Sold on Campus
New Arizona Healthy Schools Act & Smart Snacks Standards
Beginning July 1, 2026, Arizona schools must follow the new Arizona Healthy Schools Act in addition to the existing USDA Smart Snacks Standards. These requirements help create healthier school environments while ensuring students have access to nutritious foods during the school day.
What does this mean?
Any food or beverage that is provided, sold, or shared with students during the school day must:
Not contain any of the 11 ingredients prohibited by the Arizona Healthy Schools Act:
Potassium bromate
Propylparaben
Titanium dioxide
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
Yellow Dye No. 5 / Yellow Dye No. 6
Blue Dye No. 1 / Blue Dye No. 2
Green Dye No. 3
Red Dye No. 3 / Red Dye No. 40
The school day is defined as:
Midnight the night before school until 30 minutes after the final dismissal bell.
These standards apply to:
Classroom birthday treats
Classroom snacks
Food rewards or incentives
School fundraisers
School stores
Vending machines
Third-party vendors
Culinary classes
Any food or beverages provided by the school during the school day
What is NOT affected?
Parents may still:
Send their own child a lunch or snack from home.
Provide food after the school day ends (30 minutes after the final bell), subject to school policies.
Participate in evening or weekend events where these standards do not apply.
Before purchasing food or beverages:
Not every flavor or package size of a product is compliant. Product ingredients and nutrition information can change over time.
Always:
Read the ingredient list.
Check the Nutrition Facts label.
Confirm the product meets Smart Snacks requirements before purchasing.
Questions?
If you have questions about whether a food item is allowed during the school day, please contact your school's front office or the Child Nutrition Department before purchasing treats for the classroom.
ChildNutrition@AlhambraESD.org | 602-336-2980