Repost: Originally published the morning of April 7, 2026
Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A Make America Healthy Again-type (MAHA) bill passed the Senate on Monday which will require an evaluation of the prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and other harmful substances in public school nutrition programs and their potential health effects on students.
SB2122 by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) asks the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) and nutritional subject matter experts to study the amount and impact of UPFs, artificial dyes, and chemical additives in food or drinks served through school meal programs.
The bill initially created a special task force to perform the investigation, but Sen. Bowling amended the legislation so TACIR can use its existing resources to perform the study, thereby avoiding a fiscal note and eliminating the risk of the bill stalling behind the budget.
Under the new language, the TACIR report will include the identification of UPFs and the other substances provided to students through the meal programs, a summary of research regarding the link between UPF consumption and rising rates of childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction, and an analysis of ways to transition school nutrition programs toward whole-food alternatives.
The report must be submitted to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the legislative librarian by Jan. 31, 2027.
There were no questions or comments by Senators on the floor, and the bill passed 30-1 in a strong show of bipartisan support.
Republican Sen. Todd Gardenhire was the only member to vote “No”.
