ALMA, Ark. — The Alma School District has eliminated all artificial dyes from its school meals this year.

Nutrition Director Kali Corson said she began developing new meal plans and sourcing alternatives before the end of the 2024–25 school year. Over the summer, the district worked with vendors to implement the changes.

“It’s really beneficial to just take those things out. They don’t provide nutritional value anyway,” Corson said. “The only reason food dyes are put in our food is for it to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”

Corson said the district already serves primarily scratch-made items. For commonly prepackaged foods such as chips and juice—which often contain dyes and preservatives—the district partnered with vendors to find suitable alternatives.

“The vendors are listen

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