Trump admin sets deadline for eliminating 8 food dyes in US foods

U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that petroleum-based artificial color additives will be phased out from the nation’s food supply by the end of 2026. The decision, led by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), could spark a major shift in food manufacturing, especially for the many vividly colored products that line grocery store shelves.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated at a press conference that the agency would implement a comprehensive plan to eliminate synthetic dyes.

“The FDA will establish a standard and timeline for industry to switch to natural alternatives, revoke authorization for dyes not in production within coming weeks and take steps to remove remaining dyes on the market,” he said.

Context

The eight synthetic food dyes targeted for removal are: Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC); Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine); Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF); Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF); Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine); Green No. 3 (Fast Green FCF); Citrus Red No. 2; Orange B.

What to Know

Makary emphasized the initiative’s focus on children’s well-being. “For the last 50 years we have been running one of the largest uncontrolled scientific experiments in the world on our nation’s children without their consent,” he declared.

Health advocates have long pushed for such reforms, citing research that suggests artificial dyes may contribute to neurobehavioral issues in some children, including hyperactivity and attention deficits. Although studies have yielded mixed results, the FDA has traditionally defended the use of synthetic colorants, stating that “the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.”

Currently, the FDA permits 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, it moved to ban Red 3—a dye found in candies, cakes, and medications—after studies linked it to cancer in laboratory animals. The ban takes effect in 2027.

Artificial dyes remain widespread in U.S. food products, even as countries like Canada and those in Europe have shifted to natural alternatives, often in response to laws requiring warning labels on foods containing synthetic colors. In the U.S., states such as California and West Virginia have begun enacting laws that limit or ban artificial dyes in school meals and, eventually, in the broader food supply.

Still, the decision has met resistance from some industry groups. “There are not enough alternatives available to replace these products,” said the International Association of Color Manufacturers, warning of long-term supply chain challenges and the need to import costly substitutes. The National Confectioners Association echoed this concern, stating the industry “needs time to find safe and viable alternatives.”

What People Are Saying

Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former FDA official, praised the move to the Associated Press, “Their only purpose is to make food companies money. Food dyes help make ultraprocessed foods more attractive, especially to children, often by masking the absence of a colorful ingredient, like fruit.”

Food activists Vani Hari, known as the “Food Babe,” joined Tuesday’s event and said, “This marks a new era in safe food for children.”

Yale public health expert Susan Mayne told AP, “Most of these food dyes have been in our food supply for 100 years. Why aren’t they driving toward reductions in things that do drive chronic disease rates?”

What Happens Next

Some companies, like dairy producers, are taking voluntary steps, pledging to remove artificial colors from school-supplied milk, cheese, and yogurt by July 2026.

This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.

Update: 4/22/25, 5:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.