WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently unveiled comprehensive plans to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the American food supply. The measures align with the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative and aim to address growing public health concerns.
Key actions outlined by the FDA include setting a nationwide standard and timeline for replacing petrochemical dyes with natural alternatives and revoking the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B within the coming months. Additionally, the agency is working with food manufacturers to phase out six other synthetic dyes, including FD&C Red No. 40 and FD&C Yellow No. 5, with a complete removal targeted by the end of 2028. Efforts are also underway to accelerate the approval of natural coloring agents such as butterfly pea flower extract and gardenia blue.
“For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development. That era is coming to an end.”
The FDA is also fast-tracking the review of additional natural color additives and issuing guidance to support the food industry during the transition. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasized the urgency of safeguarding children’s health, citing heightened concerns about conditions like childhood diabetes, obesity, and ADHD. He remarked, “Given the growing concerns of doctors and parents about the potential role of petroleum-based food dyes, we should not be taking risks and do everything possible to safeguard the health of our children.”
The initiative includes partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bolster research on how food additives impact children’s development. This collaboration will inform evidence-based regulatory decisions and support the administration’s overarching goals for public health and nutritional transparency.
By addressing longstanding concerns over synthetic food dyes, the FDA’s initiative signals a pivotal shift in food safety standards. Moving forward, these actions are expected to set a precedent for the future of food manufacturing and consumer well-being in the United States.
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