Latest news with #GardeniaBlueInterestGroup
CNET
17 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
The FDA Approved a New Natural Food Dye. Here's How to Avoid the Artificial Ones
The US Food and Drug Administration has put a spotlight on food dyes this year. In January, the administration banned Red No. 3 and then approved three natural food dyes in May. Now, on top of the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services asking food companies to stop using petroleum-based synthetic dyes entirely, the FDA wants brands to speed up the removal of Red No. 3 before the proposed 2027 deadline. To help this along, the administration just green-lit a new natural blue food dye, gardenia (genipin) blue. 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.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA approves new blue food dye derived from gardenia fruit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a new blue color additive derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The color is approved for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas as well as hard and soft candy. Petitioned by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group, the additive is made by refining the compound genipin — derived from crushed Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit, which is often used in traditional Chinese medicine — by reacting it with soy protein hydrolysate. Though soy, a potential allergen, is used to make gardenia blue, the group has asked the FDA to exempt it from having to declare it as such. In its request, it says the soy protein is not expected to be detected in the final color additive and therefore will not cause allergic reactions. The FDA says it is still reviewing the request. "Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news release. "The FDA's approval of gardenia blue shows we're finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary's bold leadership, we're cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again." The FDA says this marks the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the administration for use in foods in the last two months. In May, three other colors were approved, including galdieria extract blue, calcium phosphate (white) and butterfly pea flower extract (blues, purples and greens). Kennedy previously called on companies to phase out all petroleum-based dyes by the end of next year, with the goal to replace them with natural alternatives in the U.S. food supply. The food dye industry has denied any safety concerns with artificial dyes. The International Association of Color Manufacturers said in a statement after Kennedy's initial announcement that artificial dyes are "essential for consistency, visual appeal, and consumer trust in food products." Despite the buzz about these food dyes, Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said they are not the main threat to our health. "The health risks really pale in comparison with the health risks of the added salt, sugar and fat in processed food," she said on "CBS Mornings" Tuesday. Sen. Lindsey Graham says "a turning point regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine is coming" Trump pushes senators to make $9.4 trillion in spending cuts Cracking the Code: The hunt for sexual predator John Doe #147
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
FDA approves new blue food dye derived from gardenia fruit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a new blue color additive derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The color is approved for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas as well as hard and soft candy. Petitioned by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group, the additive is made by refining the compound genipin — derived from crushed Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit, which is often used in traditional Chinese medicine — by reacting it with soy protein hydrolysate. Though soy, a potential allergen, is used to make gardenia blue, the group has asked the FDA to exempt it from having to declare it as such. In its request, it says the soy protein is not expected to be detected in the final color additive and therefore will not cause allergic reactions. The FDA says it is still reviewing the request. "Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news release. "The FDA's approval of gardenia blue shows we're finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary's bold leadership, we're cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again." The FDA says this marks the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the administration for use in foods in the last two months. In May, three other colors were approved, including galdieria extract blue, calcium phosphate (white) and butterfly pea flower extract (blues, purples and greens). Kennedy previously called on companies to phase out all petroleum-based dyes by the end of next year, with the goal to replace them with natural alternatives in the U.S. food supply. The food dye industry has denied any safety concerns with artificial dyes. The International Association of Color Manufacturers said in a statement after Kennedy's initial announcement that artificial dyes are "essential for consistency, visual appeal, and consumer trust in food products."
