FDA announces plans to phase out petroleum-based food dyes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced actions Tuesday to phase out the use of petroleum-based food dyes in U.S. food products, citing concerns over potential health impacts on children.

FDA Commissioner Martin Makary in remarks Tuesday pointed to studies that linked petroleum-based dyes to ADHD, obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance and cancer. He announced the FDA would be initiating a plan to revoke the authorization of the synthetic food colorings Citrus Red 2 and Orange B.

Citrus Red is only approved for use in coloring orange peels, and Orange B is only approved for use in hot dog and sausage casings.

Additionally, Makary said the FDA would take steps to remove other synthetic dyes off the market including Red Dye 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 by the end of 2026.

"America's children are sick and suffering. Forty-one percent of children have at least have at least one health condition, and 1 in 5 are on medication," Makary said. "The answer is not more Ozempic, more ADHD medication and more antidepressants. There's a role for those medications, but we have to look at underlying root causes."

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. commended food companies for working with the government on what he called an "understanding" to phase out these synthetic food dyes. Kennedy said there was no agreement in place and did not disclose any penalties when asked about repercussions against food companies that decide not to voluntarily remove petroleum food dyes from their products.

"We're going to start informing Americans about what they're eating. We're going to try to work with Congress and the White House [to] make sure that we have adequate labeling so mothers who go into the grocery stores know what is good for their children and what is not," Kennedy said, adding that his department was looking at potential labels on products to indicate their compliance with removing synthetic food dyes.

On Jan. 15, shortly before the second Trump administration began, the FDA revoked authorization for the use of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs. Manufacturers that use this dye, which the FDA noted isn't as widely used as other colorants, have until 2027 and 2028 to update their foods and ingested drugs, respectively.

Makary said Tuesday that he is requesting the FDA speed up this deadline.

When asked if he credited the Biden administration for starting this initiative at the federal level to remove food dyes, Kennedy said he did.

"I wish it hadn't taken him to one week before I came into office," Kennedy said.

Kennedy was confirmed as HHS Secretary on Feb. 13.

States including California, Utah and West Virginia have taken action in recent years to ban certain food dyes. Utah state House Speaker Mike Schultz (R) and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) spoke at the FDA event Tuesday, commending the move. Online health bloggers Vani Hari and Mark Hyman also spoke at the event.

While some studies have found potential links between artificial food dyes and effects like hyperactivity and an inability to focus, reviews conducted by the FDA in the past have not confirmed a causal link.

National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya said Tuesday that robust scientific literature isn't available to parents because "scientists are afraid to ask questions, basic questions that parents want answers to."

On Tuesday before the FDA's announcement, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced a "voluntary, proactive pledge to eliminate the use of certified artificial colors" in dairy products sold to K-12 schools for the National School Lunch and National School Breakfast programs. This change will take effect beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

The IDFA said it is aiming to eliminate the use of Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, while noting that the majority of dairy products sold to schools today don't contain certified artificial colors.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins lauded the announcement.

"While I look forward to getting whole milk back into our schools, today’s announcement shows how the dairy industry is voluntarily driving change and giving consumers what they want, without government mandates,” Rollins said in a statement. “I thank IDFA and the dairy industry for leading the way and look forward to other industries thinking about how together, we can Make America Healthy Again.”

The nonprofit Consumer Reports lauded the FDA's announcement but noted it could take years to implement a national ban on artificial food dyes.

"We need an enforceable ban on harmful synthetic food dyes. States should continue to act on legislation to remove toxic chemicals and dyes from food. Consumers shouldn’t have to wait and rely on this industry to act voluntarily after years of resistance," said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.