U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that they will begin phasing out petroleum-derived artificial color additives from the national food supply—a move that could lead to major reformulations of many vividly colored products found on store shelves.
At a news conference, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary outlined the agency’s plan to eliminate eight synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026. As part of the initiative, the FDA will set clear industry standards and timelines for transitioning to natural color alternatives. In the coming weeks, the agency will also revoke approval for any dyes no longer in production and begin the process of removing the remaining synthetic dyes currently on the market.
The eight synthetic food dyes targeted for removal are: Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC); Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine); Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF); Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF); Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine); Green No. 3 (Fast Green FCF); Citrus Red No. 2; Orange B.
The measure is a key component of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s broader “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
The officials will outline a regulatory roadmap for the phase-out, which is expected to involve public comment and formal agency review. The change would mark a substantial shift for U.S. food manufacturers, many of whom would need to reformulate products using natural color alternatives.
Advocates for public health have long pushed for the removal of synthetic dyes, citing research—though mixed—that links these additives to neurobehavioral issues in children, such as hyperactivity and attention deficits. While the FDA has consistently maintained that approved color additives are safe, the agency acknowledges that “the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.”
Currently, the FDA authorizes the use of 36 color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency declared that Red 3—a dye found in certain candies, baked goods, and pharmaceuticals—would be banned by 2028 due to its link to cancer in laboratory animals.
The targeted dyes are widely used in American food products. In contrast, many companies in Canada and Europe have already transitioned to natural alternatives, partly due to regulations that require warning labels on foods containing artificial colors.
A growing number of U.S. states, including California and West Virginia, have recently passed laws restricting or banning artificial dyes and other additives from school meals and, in some cases, from the broader food supply.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.