During a press conference in the White House on April 22, the Trump administration announced its plans with the FDA and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “phase out” synthetic food dyes. This initiative is part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which seeks to address concerns over the effects of artificial dyes and additives and their impact on the health of consumers. Companies must now decide whether they will release a variation of their products without dyes or if they will simply remove dyes from all of their products.
Dyes in food have been a controversial subject for health advocates, especially RFK Jr, who has been rallying against dyes and other unhealthy and processed foods for years. “For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” Kennedy said, according to the FDA. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development.”
Kennedy has also argued that psychological disorders, such as ADHD and chronic illnesses, are linked to the chemicals in additives.
However, FDA commissioner Marty Makary offered support of Kennedy’s claims.
“Taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America’s children healthy, but it is one important step,” he said.
Additives, such as Red Dye No. 3, have been linked to cancer—at least in lab rats, according to the FDA. While the dyes have not been found to induce cancer in humans, the Delaney Clause states that the FDA cannot authorize any additives that induce cancer in humans or animals.
Removing the dyes won’t happen overnight. The FDA plans to work with the food industry to eliminate specific dyes by the end of the year, according to NPR. “There’s no mandate for the food industry to comply with the phase-out of the six synthetic colorants,” said Kennedy, though it is implied that companies will agree as long as they have “specific guidelines” when it comes to the usage of dyes in their products.
Some have already suggested compromises, such as PepsiCo announcing its proposal to either phase out the food-colorings or to offer its customers a natural color alternative while still manufacturing products with the dyes, according to The New York Times.
Specific dyes that are included in the ban are FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Blue No. 2, according to the FDA. The colorants Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B are also being considered for being banned from food products, according to NPR.
It is clear that health is a big concern for anti-dye advocates. The FDA and its assembly aren’t taking part in the phase-out just to ruin the fun of eating rainbow-colored Froot Loops; however, if the consumption of dyed goods seems appetizing, there is seemingly only a while left to enjoy this privilege. Stock up on Lucky Charms, Gatorade, and Doritos while it’s still possible.
