The FDA Approved a New Natural Food Dye. Here's How to Avoid the Artificial Ones
According to the FDA, this blue dye comes from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. It can be used in hard and soft candy, sports drinks, ready-to-drink teas, flavored or enhanced noncarbonated water, fruit drinks and ades.
"This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in a news release. "Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes."
Gardenia (genipin) blue joins the red algae-based galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and the white color calcium phosphate as 2025's new and approved natural food color additives.
MichelleWhat is gardenia (genipin) blue?
The FDA approved the use of gardenia (genipin) blue from a petition by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group. According to the FDA's order, gardenia (genipin) blue is a dark purple or blue liquid made from the mature fruit of the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis plant with soy protein hydrolysate.
Now, you may be thinking: Isn't soy an allergen? According to the GBIG, the soy protein allergens aren't expected to be detected in the final color additive because "unreacted protein hydrolysate is removed during manufacturing."
Because no soy protein allergens will be in the final product, the GBIG is asking to be exempt from food allergen labeling. The FDA is currently reviewing this petition.
How to avoid artificial food dyes
Though more research is required and many still find this answer controversial, Healthline reports that there is currently no evidence that food dyes pose significant health risks. However, if artificial food dyes are substances you want to steer clear of, there are ways you can work to remove them from your diet.
First, make sure you're reading the labels on your food products to see if any synthetic dyes are listed. For instance, you can look out for Red Dye No. 40, which is a common one.
To avoid these dyes in the first place, you'll want to reduce your consumption of ultra-processed, packaged foods, which are more likely to be made with artificial dyes. Ultra-processed foods are made from substances like added sugars, fats and starches that are extracted from food. You can replace your packaged foods with a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, protein, healthy fats and whole grains to ensure you have a balanced diet.
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