Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has announced that petroleum-based synthetic food dyes will no longer be used in the US as part of a wider campaign to “Make America Healthy Again”.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced a series of measures to phase out the use of all petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, which are commonly found in products such as cereals, snacks and drinks. The FDA has outlined six actions it will take:
- Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives.
- Initiating the process to revoke authorisation for Citrus Red No.2 and Orange B food colourings within the coming months.
- Working with industry to eliminate the six remaining synthetic dyes by the end of next year. These are: FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2.
- Authorising four new natural food colour additives and accelerating the review and approval of others.
- Partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research into how food additives impact children’s health and development.
- Requesting food companies to remove FD&C Red No. 3 sooner than the previous 2027-2028 deadline.
“These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit.”
In a statement, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr commented: “For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent.
“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. We’re restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public’s trust. And we’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day.”
The FDA has also said that it is “taking steps to issue guidance and provide regulatory flexibilities to industries”.
FDA commissioner Marty Makary added: “Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada.
“We have a new epidemic of childhood diabetes, obesity, depression, and ADHD. 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.”
Working with the NIH Nutrition Regulatory Science and Research Program, the FDA says it will enhance nutrition and food-related research to inform regulatory decisions and strengthen its ability to develop evidence-based food policies so that it can “support a healthier America, and advance the priorities of the Make America Healthy Again Commission”.
