FDA announces plan to eliminate 6 synthetic dyes from U.S. food before 2027
The announcement was made during a press conference by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who was also joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and other food advocates and state legislators.
Just last month, Gov. Morissey signed House Bill 2354, a similar ban on nine different synthetic food dyes and preservatives, but that ban won't go into effect until the beginning of 2028. Tackling artificial dye has also been a cornerstone of Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again,' or 'MAHA,' movement.
What foods go away under West Virginia's ban of certain food dye?
During the press conference, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary outlined three planned steps the FDA will be taking to provide 'clarity' for national food producers:
Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petroleum-based food dyes to natural alternatives
Initiating a process to revoke authorization of synthetic food colorings, including those not in production, like Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, in the coming weeks.'
Taking steps to eliminate the remaining six synthetic dyes on the market from the U.S. food supply, specifically:
Red 40
Yellow 5
Yellow 6
Blue 1
Blue 2
Green 3
Shortly after, Makery pitched ingredients like watermelon juice, beet juice or carrot juice as natural alternatives to artificial red or orange dyes. Makary also announced plans to authorize four more natural food dyes and is 'accelerating the review and approval of other natural ingredient colors.'
He also invited food producers to remove Red 3, a dye already banned by the FDA, from food products before the established 2027 deadline.
The FDA's plan to eliminate synthetic food dye is very similar to West Virginia's, although it omits butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Propylparaben, two preservatives that were included in House Bill 2354. BHA is a commonly used preservative in meat products, particularly pepperoni, which is a key ingredient in West Virginia's unofficial state food, the pepperoni roll.
Your favorite pepperoni roll could be illegal under new food dye ban
Officials said that the elimination of these dyes at a federal level will ease the strain on American food producers, who risk having to deal with a 'patchwork' of statewide food dye bans, which could each have their own restrictions or requirements.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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