Latest news with #MichaelDykes
Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
US ice cream makers say they'll stop using artificial dyes by 2028
Related : About 40 makers of ice cream and frozen dairy desserts said they would remove seven petroleum-based dyes from their products by 2028, according to Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association. The colors are Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. The trade group wouldn't identify the firms, although Turkey Hill Dairy chief executive Andy Jacobs joined the gathering. The national focus on artificial food dyes is 'a good step to take,' but officials should not ignore larger known contributors to chronic disease, including the added sugars and saturated fat commonly found in ice cream, said Deanna Hoelscher, a University of Texas nutrition expert. Advertisement 'Just taking out or changing the food dye source is not necessarily going to make it a healthy option,' she said. 'It still is a food that should be consumed in moderation.' However, Makary also hinted that new federal dietary guidelines, expected later this year, would challenge established links between saturated fat and heart disease, ending what he called 'a 70-year demonization of natural saturated fat.' Advertisement The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream a year, the IDFA said. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies showing that they may cause some neurobehavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and attention problems, in some children. The Food and Drug Administration has maintained that approved dyes are safe and that 'most children have no adverse effects' when consuming foods made with them. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The FDA has approved new natural color additives in recent months, including a new blue color made from the fruit of the gardenia announced Monday. Gardenia (genipin) blue is approved for use in sports drinks, candies and certain other products, the agency said. Makary also sent a letter to food manufacturers on Monday that 'encourages' them to speed up removal of the dye known as Red 3, which was Related : Some food companies have said they will stop using artificial dyes, but relying on voluntary action rather than regulatory requirements won't guarantee compliance, said Thomas Galligan, a scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. Advertisement 'Talk is cheap,' Galligan said. 'It's easy for companies to make promises to look like they're being compliant and generate goodwill among consumers and the Trump administration, but it remains to be seen if they will actually follow through.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Health
- Fox News
America's dairy farmers and ice cream producers agree to quit using artificial colors
America's ice cream will be getting healthy again. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins, together with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Mary Makary, made essentially this announcement on Monday. (See the video at the top of this article.) MAHA leaders, together with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and dairy farmers, announced that artificial colors in ice cream products will be eliminated by the end of 2027. Sec. Rollins told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Each one of these endeavors helps families make better choices and pursue healthier lives." "I appreciate IDFA members for spearheading this new initiative and finding ways to promote President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda," she added. Michael Dykes, IDFA CEO, said they've reduced sugar by 60% in America's schools and flavored milk, which is the No. 1 product for children. "This announcement today represents over 40 individual ice cream companies," said Dykes. "It's the single largest effort of its kind." Sec. Kennedy commended major food manufacturers that have pledged to take artificial coloring out of their foods. "With this addition today of the dairymen and the dairy food producers, we now have about 35% of the American food industry that has made commitments," said RFK Jr. He added the stats are in addition to about 35% to 40% of the food industry, which was "already organic and healthy and chemical-free." Dairy farmers from Michigan, Illinois, Idaho and Indiana were at the press conference. Schwoeppe Dairy farm owner and fifth-generation dairy farmer Sam Schwoeppe of Indiana touted the benefits of consuming whole milk. Her parents were foster parents, she said, and she personally witnessed the importance of good nutrition in her life, making it her core to her mission "to feed children." "I'll never forget one of my brothers arriving [at] our family at the age of nine with gray hair, bald patches on his head and skin flaking off his body due to a lack of nutrition," she said. "After one month of regular meals, including the dense nutrition provided by whole milk and dairy products — and of course, our regular weekend ice cream parties — he transformed into a little freckled-faced, red-headed boy," said Schwoeppe. "It is essential we consume good, wholesome food products," she added. "Products containing real dairy are the most nutritious options, and even though ice cream is decadent and has calories, it sure beats the heck out of candy and soda pop for a sweet treat." Dairy products are a good source of essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium and vitamin D, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. Commissioner Makary also announced the FDA will be approving another natural food dye: gardenia blue. "The sickness of American kids is not a willpower problem. It's not their fault. We can do things that will make the food supply healthier, one step at a time," said Makary. In May, the FDA approved three natural-source colors in food items: galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate. The MAHA movement has spread to a number of local communities — with Stella's Homemade Ice Cream in South Carolina, plus King Cone in Plover, Wisconsin, doing away with artificial food dyes, Fox News Digital previously reported.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
US ice cream giants pledge to ditch artificial dyes by 2027 in health push
Major US ice cream makers on Monday announced plans to phase out their use of artificial dyes following pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jnr to eliminate unnecessary additives from the American diet. Advertisement The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which includes over 40 top ice cream brands, said its members would stop using petroleum-derived synthetic colourings by the end of 2027. These chemicals have been linked in studies to conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, and genomic disruption, yet serve no nutritional or functional purpose beyond cosmetic colouring, health advocates have long argued. 'I'm particularly happy to be here today because this is relevant to my favourite food, which is ice cream,' Kennedy said at a press event, lauding the dairy industry for its actions. 'This is a great day for dairy and it's a great day for Make America Healthy Again,' added the IDFA's President and CEO Michael Dykes, referencing Kennedy's MAHA slogan that is a play on President Donald Trump 's 'Make America Great Again' or Maga. Eight-month-old Eleanor gets a taste of ice cream during Monday's ceremony announcing that major US ice cream makers will eliminate the use of artificial colours in their products by the end of 2027. Photo: AP Andy Jacobs, CEO of Turkey Hill, said many commercial ice cream manufacturers had already phased out artificial colours or were in the process of doing so.
UPI
a day ago
- Business
- UPI
Dozens of U.S. ice cream makers pledge to eliminate artificial colors
The International Dairy Foods Association said Monday that major U.S. ice cream makers have pledged to remove artificial food coloring from their milk products by 2028. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 15 (UPI) -- Dozens of U.S. ice cream manufacturers are pledging to eliminate the use of artificial food colors from their ice cream products made with real milk by the end of 2027, the U.S. dairy manufacturing and marketing trade association said. Announced Monday by the International Dairy Foods Association, the companies have agreed to remove certified artificial colors Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Green No. 3, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 from their frozen dairy products by 2028. According to the dairy trade association, the commitment is from companies that together make more than 90% of the ice cream sold in the United States. "Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve," Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA, said in a statement. The announcement comes as the Food and Drug Administration has been seeking to remove artificial food colorings from the U.S. market. During the final days of the previous Biden administration, the FDA announced it had revoked authorization for the use of synthetic food dye Red No. 3 after a linkage to cancer was found in animal studies, with its use to be phased out by 2028. Under the Trump administration, the FDA announced in April plans to phase out petroleum-based dyes, including those U.S. ice cream makers pledged Monday to eliminate from their products. "These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement making the announcement. "That era is coming to an end." While phasing out artificial color dyes, the FDA has been approving natural color additives, announcing the authorization of galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate, in May. The FDA also approved the use of a new blue color additive from the gardenia fruit on Monday. The IDFA said the Monday commitment from U.S. ice cream makers only applies to products made with real milk sold at food retail and does not apply to products made with non-dairy ingredients or those made in-house by small ice cream shops or restaurants. On Friday, the Consumer Brands Association announced a voluntary commitment to encourage U.S. food and beverage makers to remove certified Food, Drug and Cosmetic colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Fox News
a day ago
- Health
- Fox News
America's dairy farmers and ice cream producers agree to quit using artificial colors
America's ice cream will be getting healthy again. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins, together with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Mary Makary, made essentially this announcement on Monday. (See the video at the top of this article.) MAHA leaders, together with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and dairy farmers, announced that artificial colors in ice cream products will be eliminated by the end of 2027. Sec. Rollins told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Each one of these endeavors helps families make better choices and pursue healthier lives." "I appreciate IDFA members for spearheading this new initiative and finding ways to promote President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda," she added. Michael Dykes, IDFA CEO, said they've reduced sugar by 60% in America's schools and flavored milk, which is the No. 1 product for children. "This announcement today represents over 40 individual ice cream companies," said Dykes. "It's the single largest effort of its kind." Sec. Kennedy commended major food manufacturers that have pledged to take artificial coloring out of their foods. "With this addition today of the dairymen and the dairy food producers, we now have about 35% of the American food industry that has made commitments," said RFK Jr. He added the stats are in addition to 35% of the food industry, which was "already organic and healthy and chemical-free." Dairy farmers from Michigan, Illinois, Idaho and Indiana were at the press conference. Schwoeppe Dairy farm owner and fifth-generation dairy farmer Sam Schwoeppe of Indiana touted the benefits of consuming whole milk. Her parents were foster parents, she said, and she personally witnessed the importance of good nutrition in her life, making it her core to her mission "to feed children." "I'll never forget one of my brothers arriving [at] our family at the age of nine with gray hair, bald patches on his head and skin flaking off his body due to a lack of nutrition," she said. "After one month of regular meals, including the dense nutrition provided by whole milk and dairy products — and of course, our regular weekend ice cream parties — he transformed into a little freckled-faced, red-headed boy," said Schwoeppe. "It is essential we consume good, wholesome food products," she added. "Products containing real dairy are the most nutritious options, and even though ice cream is decadent and has calories, it sure beats the heck out of candy and soda pop for a sweet treat." Dairy products are a good source of essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium and vitamin D, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. Commissioner Makary also announced the FDA will be approving another natural food dye: gardenia blue. "The sickness of American kids is not a willpower problem. It's not their fault. We can do things that will make the food supply healthier, one step at a time," said Makary. In May, the FDA approved three natural-source colors in food items: galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate. The MAHA movement has spread to a number of local communities — with Stella's Homemade Ice Cream in South Carolina, plus King Cone in Plover, Wisconsin, doing away with artificial food dyes, Fox News Digital previously reported.
