(NewsNation) — About 1 in 5 packaged foods and drinks in the U.S. contain synthetic dyes, according to a new study of roughly 40,000 grocery items.
The findings were published Wednesday in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and come amid growing skepticism of synthetic food dyes, which have come under fire from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Foodmakers have long used synthetic dyes to enhance the visual appeal of their products, and these additives have generally been considered safe by U.S. regulatory agencies. However, consumer advocates have grown increasingly concerned as research has linked synthetic dyes to behavioral problems in some children.
The latest study analyzed ingredient data from the top 25 U.S. food manufacturers and found that certain kinds of products — particularly those marketed to children — were more likely to contain synthetic dyes.
Researchers said synthetic dyes were present in 28% of products across five categories: confectionery, sugar-sweetened beverages, ready meals, breakfast cereals, and baked goods like cakes. By comparison, only 11% of products in other categories contained synthetic dies.
Products containing synthetic dyes also had much higher sugar content, about 141% more on average, than items without dyes.
“Given the accumulation of evidence over the last 40 years pointing to the health harms of synthetic dyes, it’s disappointing to see that they’re still so prevalent in our food system, particularly in products that are designed to appeal to children,” Elizabeth Dunford, co-author of the study and research fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, said in a statement.
Confectionery companies had the most products containing synthetic dyes, the study found. Sports drinks were also a major offender, with 79% using dyes regardless of the manufacturer.
The National Confectioners Association, a candy industry trade group, denounced the study, accusing the researchers of having “major gaps in their analysis.”
“This report measures the amount of dyes in the food system but ignores exposure to consumers,” the NCA said in a statement Wednesday.
The trade group pointed to research showing that people in the U.S. eat candy just two to three times a week, “far less than the other categories of food examined,” and said most candy on store shelves is made by companies that do not advertise on children’s programming.
That said, synthetic food dyes appear to be on their way out.
In April, the FDA and Health Secretary Kennedy urged food companies to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, aiming to eventually eliminate them entirely from the nation’s food supply.
Earlier this month, Kraft Heinz announced it would be removing all artificial dyes from its U.S. products by the end of 2027. General Mills plans to remove synthetic dyes from all its U.S. cereals and foods served in K-12 schools by the summer of 2026 and aims to eliminate the dyes from its full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027.
Both companies said the majority of their U.S. products are already made without synthetic colors.
Pepsi is also moving away from artificial colors, as is Sam’s Club’s private label brand.
Thomas Galligan, co-author of the new study, remains skeptical.
“The FDA recently asked the food industry to voluntarily phase synthetic dyes out of the food supply, but many companies had previously made promises to stop using them and then failed to keep those promises, Galligan, principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a statement.
Galligan said if the FDA were to require warning labels on synthetically dyed foods, as the European Union requires, there would be a stronger incentive for companies to change.
The FDA announced in January that the dye known as Red No. 3 — used in candies, cakes and some medications — would be banned in food by 2027 because it was shown to cause cancer in lab rats.
Several countries in Europe, along with Canada and Australia, have banned or placed stricter limits on certain food dyes that haven’t faced the same restrictions in the U.S.
Multiple U.S. states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting artificial food dyes.
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