US ice cream makers to remove synthetic dyes under RFK Jr initiative
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), representing over 40 leading ice cream brands, confirmed the decision to phase out petroleum-based artificial colorings. Studies have linked these dyes to health issues such as ADHD, cancer, and digestive problems, despite providing no nutritional benefits.
Kennedy praised the industry's commitment at a press event, calling it a positive step for public health. 'This is a great day for dairy and it's a great day for Make America Healthy Again,' said IDFA President Michael Dykes, referencing Kennedy's MAHA slogan.
Turkey Hill CEO Andy Jacobs noted that many manufacturers had already begun removing artificial dyes. 'By taking this step now, ice cream manufacturers are ensuring that ice cream remains a special part of our lives as consumer preferences change,' he said.
The US ice cream industry, worth $12 billion annually, sees Americans consuming around 19 pounds per person each year. While some companies like Nestle and PepsiCo have already committed to removing synthetic dyes, others, including Mars and Kellogg's, continue to use them in products like M&M's and Froot Loops.
Meanwhile, the FDA under President Biden recently banned Red Dye No. 3, while the Trump administration has fast-tracked approvals for natural alternatives like gardenia blue. Kennedy's voluntary approach has drawn criticism for being too lenient, but industry participation suggests progress. - AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Starchild: Why Malaysian kids have 'egg-citing' thoughts about eggs
Have you ever cracked open an egg and watched it sizzle in a hot pan? Eggs may be small, but they are packed with goodness. Many people in Malaysia eat eggs every day, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Nyon Qian Rou, 6 Eggs are full of important nutrients that help us grow strong and stay healthy. They give us protein, which builds our muscles. They also have vitamin A for good eyesight and vitamin D for strong bones. Some eggs even have Omega-3, which is good for our brain. One egg has about 70 calories and can keep you feeling full for a long time. That's why many people say eggs are a 'superfood'. What's your favourite way to eat eggs? Some children like them scrambled while others love them sunny-side up, which reminds them of a bright yellow sun. There are so many ways to enjoy eggs. You can also make omelettes with onions, chillies or even cheese. In Malaysia, we also enjoy half-boiled eggs with soy sauce and pepper – yummy with kaya toast! Eggs are also used in many dishes and desserts, like kuih, cakes and even fried noodles. Just remember, eggs must be cooked properly and kept in a cool place so they stay fresh. Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Eggs. 'I eat a hard-boiled egg as a snack in school. It is tasty! Eggs are the best! Eggs are good for my body,' says Pang Yu Xuan, six. Pang Yu Xuan, 6 Seven-year-old Sham Kok Ren loves eating duck eggs. 'Mummy makes sunny-side up eggs for breakfast. The yellow part is like the sun! I eat them with bread. Yummy!' Sham Kok Ren, 7 'Eggs are my favourite food. I eat hard-boiled eggs with soy sauce. I also like egg sandwiches. Eggs give me energy to learn and play,' says Li Xin Yan, six. Nyon Qian Rou, six, says: 'I like chicken eggs. I like them in fried rice. I have tried egg soup as well. My mother puts egg in pasta. It is hot and nice.' Find the hidden words! ITEM: How do you get to school every day? Do you take the school bus or ride in your parents' car? If you take the bus, how many friends ride with you? What time does the bus pick you up, and how long is the journey to school? Do you enjoy chatting with friends on the ride, or is the bus too noisy or crowded? Is your school bus driver friendly and careful? Would you rather carpool or go with your parents? Tell us all about your school ride! Don't forget to include a drawing. Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by Aug 2. Please put 'STARCHILD: My School Ride' in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Coke's shift to cane sugar would be expensive, hurt US farmers
NEW YORK: A possible move by Coca-Cola, and other beverage and food industries, to use cane sugar instead of corn syrup as a sweetener would be difficult and expensive to implement, while mostly negative for farmers in the United States. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in its beverages in the country after his discussions with the maker of the top soda pop brand. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and activists from his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign have been pushing for changes in ingredients used by the food and beverage industry, claiming the proposed substitutes are healthier. Kennedy has said the consumption of both sugar and high fructose corn syrup are unhealthy, and scientists say sugar presents some nutritional benefits over high fructose corn syrup. Coca-Cola already sells Coke made from cane sugar in other markets, including Mexico, and some US grocery stores carry glass bottles with cane sugar labelled "Mexican" Coke. In response to Trump's comment, Coca-Cola said "more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon." PepsiCo also said on Thursday it would use sugar in its products like Pepsi beverages if consumers want it. Industry analysts, however, said changes in the formulation of the rest of the Coke sold in the US, and other beverages and candies, would involve significant adjustments to companies' supply chains, since corn syrup and sugar come from different producers. It would also involve changes to product labelling, and cost more. "Food and beverage industries started to use corn syrup in the US in the past because of costs. It is cheaper than sugar," said Ron Sterk, a senior editor at SOSland Publishing, an information provider for the ingredients industry in the US. He said the beverage industry uses 55 per cent High Fructose Corn Syrup, or 55HFCS, while bakers use 42 per cent HFCS. The Corn Refiners Association said the complete elimination of high fructose corn syrup from the US food and beverage supply would cut corn prices by up to 34 cents a bushel, resulting in a loss of US$5.1 billion in farm revenue. "The resulting economic shockwave would lead to rural job losses and significant economic consequences to communities across the country," CRA said. Agricultural processors such as Archer-Daniels-Midland and Ingredion, two of the largest HFCS producers, grind corn at mills dotted around the Midwest farm belt to produce corn sweetener and other goods like ethanol biofuel. Shares of both companies fell on Thursday. ADM is estimated to ship 4 billion to 4.5 billion pounds of high fructose corn syrup every year, accounting for roughly 6 per cent to 7 per cent of projected 2026 earnings, said analyst Heather Jones of Heather Jones Research. "If Coke were to shift the entirety of its HF55 usage to cane, the cost increase would very likely exceed US$1 billion given the current price gap between HF55 and cane sugar and the probability of very large price increases for the latter," Jones said in a research note. To produce one pound of HFCS, the industry uses around 2.5 pounds of corn, so a large shift in corn syrup use in the US would hurt demand for the cereal, hurting corn growers, while probably boosting imports of cane sugar since there is not enough produced in the US to satisfy American consumers' sweet tooth. SUGAR DEFICIT Around 400 million bushels of corn are used annually to make corn syrup for drinks and other food products, representing around 2.5 per cent of US corn production, according to US government data. The US produces around 3.6 million metric tonnes of cane sugar per year, half of that in Trump's home state of Florida, compared with around 7.3 million tonnes of corn syrup. Trump's ongoing trade wars, however, would make it difficult to cover the deficit, sugar analyst Michael McDougall said. "It will most likely come from Brazil," he said, referring to the world's top cane sugar producer, "but Trump just hit Brazil with a 50 per cent import tariff." Not only does cane sugar cost more, but Coca-Cola has independent bottlers with hundreds of facilities already designed for use with high fructose corn syrup, said James McDonnell, partner at CIL Management Consultants. A reformulation would require additional investments, said McDonnell, and it is unlikely that bottlers would want to absorb the cost. Consumers will also balk at the added cost, he said, "and you thought they were angry at the price of eggs!"
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Trump says Coca-Cola to switch to cane sugar in US
WASHINGTON: Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages -- a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement. 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them -- You'll see. It's just better!' The US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favorite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. 'We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca?Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca?Cola product range will be shared soon,' the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios -- 55/45 in soft drinks -- while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke -- which is made with cane sugar -- is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more 'natural' flavor. Trump's prized Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame -- a compound classified as a 'possible carcinogen' by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - AFP
