Earlier this year the Food and Drug Administration pledged to say goodbye to Red dye No. 3. Up next could be other synthetic food colorings used to enhance the color in everyday foods like candy and cereals.
“FDA promised to remove Red dye No. 3 from foods long after a significant body of evidence exposed the link between the colorant and cancer in animals. For more than three decades, the FDA neglected its obligation to take this action under the Delaney Clause. Instead, it continued to allow this non-essential chemical colorant to remain in candy, desserts and other food products. Now it looks like they won’t make the same mistake twice. Citizens for Health (CFH) is thankful the agency plans to take swifter action to protect out food supply,” said Betsy Lehrfeld, CFH President.
READ MORE: Too Little, Too Late: FDA Finally Says ‘No More’ to Red Dye No. 3 in Food, Drugs
Colorings that could be phased out
The following food dyes could be phased out of our food supply by the end of 2026:
- Green dye No. 3
- Red dye No. 40
- Yellow dye No. 5
- Yellow dye No. 6
- Blue dye No. 1
- Blue dye No. 2
The FDA plans to start the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — within the coming months. It will also ask the food industry to speed up removal of Red dye No. 3 sooner than the original deadline of 2027-2028.
What’s next for the use of colorants?
In lieu of synthetic colorants, the FDA is recommending alternatives such as calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and other natural alternatives to synthetic food dyes.
FDA also said it is, “Taking steps to issue guidance and provide regulatory flexibilities to industries,” to help navigate the proposed changes. The agency plans to partner with the National Institutes of Health to research the effect of food additives on children’s health and development.
Act Today to Protect Tomorrow
Act now and contact your Congress member asking them to require FDA to undertake a review of all approved color additives to ensure American families are protected from potentially harmful food colorants.
