Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to direct food manufacturers to phase out eight petroleum-based food dyes from cereals, sports drinks, and other grocery staples by the end of 2026.
The directive, expected to be announced in full detail on Tuesday, affects hundreds of thousands of grocery store items containing eight petroleum-based dyes, which health experts have long criticized for potentially causing hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in children, according to a New York Times report.
The eight dyes being targeted include Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, and Orange B, according to details provided by HHS officials to the Times.
Food industry experts estimate that the reformulation costs could reach into the billions, though many companies have already developed alternative formulations for their European and Canadian products.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary signaled the move as being in line with President Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, stating last week to the Times, “My feeling is, why gamble with the health of our children?”
“We have some data points. We have some observational studies. We believe that these artificial food chemicals are implicated,” he said. “My feeling is why not err on the side of safety? Why say, ‘Let’s just take the risk because the vibrance of the colors is so appealing, it’s worth it.’”
Health activist Vani Hari, credited for pressuring Kraft to remove artificial colors from its macaroni and cheese products in 2015, noted, “We never had a president ever talk about these issues in this way. You are watching an entire population who largely never knew about these issues hear about them for the first time.”
Products manufactured for European and Canadian markets already use natural color substitutes like blueberries and carrots instead of artificial dyes, while American versions of the same products contain Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently opened an investigation into Kellogg for marketing its products as “healthy” despite containing petroleum-based artificial food colorings that he claimed had been linked to hyperactivity and other health problems.
Some food manufacturers had previously pledged to eliminate artificial ingredients by 2018, promises that largely went unfulfilled. This history of unfulfilled commitments formed part of the basis for Texas Attorney General Paxton’s recent investigation into Kellogg.
The International Food Additives Council expressed support for a unified federal approach in a statement, saying, “A unified, federal approach is essential for maintaining a safe and reliable food supply.”
West Virginia took early action on the issue last month when it banned foods containing most artificial food dyes and two preservatives, citing potential health risks.
These state-level initiatives, coupled with consumer advocacy campaigns, have increasingly pressured major food manufacturers to reformulate products sold in the American market to match the stricter standards already in place abroad.
The initiative gained significant momentum in March when Kennedy summoned executives from major food companies, including PepsiCo, Kellogg, and General Mills, to a Washington meeting, where he made clear that eliminating food dyes was a top priority of the administration.
