By Jesse Newman

States are putting the screws to big food companies.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday said he is investigating food giant General Mills for allegedly misrepresenting products such as Trix and Lucky Charms as "healthy."

He said that such products, which the Minnesota-based company often markets as a good source of vitamins and minerals, often contain synthetic food dyes that have been shown to contribute to health problems for children.

Paxton in April launched a similar investigation into WK Kellogg, which makes cereals like Froot Loops and Apple Jacks. He has said he is working to hold food companies accountable for contributing to a "broken health system."

General Mills didn't immediately comment.

Texas is among a growing number of states seeking to restrict food makers' use of artificial colors and other food additives. West Virginia recently passed a law banning seven artificial dyes and two preservatives from foods sold in the state, and California last year passed a law that will bar state public schools from serving foods containing six synthetic dyes.

Other states are considering similar legislation. Long-running efforts by consumer groups and food activists to ban such ingredients have also gotten a boost from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose "Make America Healthy Again" agenda has taken center stage in American politics.

Now serving as Health and Human Services secretary under President Trump, Kennedy is spearheading a federal effort to change food companies' ways by pressuring them to remove artificial dyes and taking aim at a decades-old system of regulating food additives.

Food companies and industry groups have defended dyes' safety, citing prior approval by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies. Artificial ingredients and additives, the industry has said, help keep food affordable and reduce waste.

General Mills shares declined 2% in midday trading, with broader U.S. stock indexes mixed.

Write to Jesse Newman at jesse.newman@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 13, 2025 12:20 ET (16:20 GMT)

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