The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the US food supply due to health concerns, according to Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. The decision aims to reduce the consumption of these chemicals, which have been linked to various health problems in children.
Makary emphasizes that this move is a crucial step towards improving children’s health and acknowledges that it may not be a silver bullet but an important one. He plans to work with food companies to eliminate six synthetic dyes – red No. 40, yellow No. 5, yellow No. 6, blue No. 1, blue No. 2, and green No. 3 – by the end of next year.
The FDA is also exploring alternative ingredients and has announced plans to authorize four new natural color additives. The agency’s goal is to remove all petroleum-based food dyes from the US food supply, which will be a significant step forward in protecting public health.
Industry groups have expressed support for the FDA’s efforts, with some acknowledging that more research on food additives is needed. Consumer safety groups, however, are cautious and expect that this move may take time to achieve due to industry cooperation.
This decision comes as several states have already implemented legislation or rules restricting food dyes, with California and West Virginia being notable outliers. The FDA’s plan aims to provide a consistent federal standard for the food industry and follows years of advocacy from consumer groups like Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/health/fda-food-dyes/index.html