Artificial food colors have emerged as a primary focus of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which aims to address the concerns surrounding ultraprocessed foods and their key ingredients. “For too long, our food system has depended on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that provide no nutritional benefits and pose avoidable health risks,” Kennedy stated in a recent announcement. “We are eliminating these dyes and endorsing safe, natural alternatives to safeguard families and promote healthier choices.” Critics argue that artificial food dyes can lead to behavioral issues in children and may heighten the risk of cancer. While the FDA is not instituting a ban on artificial dyes, several states have enacted or are contemplating a complete ban on petroleum-based colors as the MAHA campaign gains traction.
Kennedy has proposed that switching from artificial dyes to natural sources is a straightforward change. During an April press conference, he recommended that companies “experiment with watermelon juice” instead of using petroleum-derived red dye. However, the situation is more complicated, according to industry experts. Reformulating products is a complex and time-consuming process, necessitating time for companies to adjust their supply chains and uphold quality control measures, as highlighted by the International Association of Color Manufacturers. More importantly, there is a significant shortfall of agricultural products required to shift the entire food industry to natural colors by the end of 2026.
“The aggressive voluntary timeline set by the FDA to phase out [synthetic] colors, which are safe and highly regulated food ingredients, would create considerable disruption, ignoring the need to transition supply chains, bolster agricultural resources, and overhaul manufacturing infrastructures,” the association remarked in a statement last month. Nevertheless, several major food producers, including PepsiCo and Tyson, have pledged to accelerate the transition to natural dyes and colors in response to FDA pressures. McCormick, a company specializing in ingredients and flavorings, has also observed “an uptick in reformulation activity” among restaurants and food manufacturers as efforts to ban synthetic dyes gain momentum.
The FDA has approved the use of galderia extract blue in nonalcoholic beverages, cereals, and various desserts and candies. Additionally, butterfly pea flower extract, which is already permitted in yogurt and several beverages, can now be utilized in ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, and snack items such as hard pretzels and potato chips. In this context, it’s essential to consider the implications of dietary choices during key life stages, such as calcium citrate during pregnancy, as families seek healthier options amidst these changing regulations.