U.S. health officials seek to phase out artificial dyes from food supply

U.S. health officials urge food makers to phase out artificial colors, but face industry pushback and regulatory challenges.

U.S. health officials on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, said they would urge food makers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colours in the nation’s food supply, but stopped short of promising a formal ban and offered few specifics on how they intended to achieve the sweeping change.

Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), commissioner, said at a news conference that the agency would take steps to eliminate the synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, health secretary, who joined the gathering, said he had heard from food manufacturers, but had no formal agreements with them. “We don't have an agreement, we have an understanding,” Kennedy said.

The officials said the FDA would establish a standard and timeline for industry to switch to natural alternatives, revoke authorisation for dyes not in production within coming weeks and take action to remove remaining dyes on the market.

“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,” Mr. Makary said. The proposed move is aimed at boosting children's health, he added.

“For the last 50 years we have been running one of the largest uncontrolled scientific experiments in the world on our nation’s children without their consent," he said.

The process to revoke approved additives from the food supply typically takes several years and requires public comment, agency review and final rulemaking procedures.

Industry groups said that the chemicals are safe and suggested they would try to negotiate with regulators to keep them available.