The maker of Dum Dums lollipops and Sweethearts candy hearts has refused to switch to natural colors despite the US government’s push for brighter, safer alternatives to synthetic dyes. CEO Kirk Vashaw cited a key challenge in changing ingredients – maintaining taste. He noted that using beet juice as a substitute for red dye results in a product with a pleasant color but an unpleasant beety flavor.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-19/rfk-jr-s-food-dye-ban-effort-gets-pushback-from-dum-dums?srnd=all