Moment RFK Jr calmly dismantles Republican over food dyes... before lawmaker's industry ties are exposed

Daily Mail​

14-05-2025

Robert F Kennedy Jr, head of HHS and crusader against food dyes, squared off with Tennessee Rep Chuck Fleischmann over the risky additives that have infiltrated nearly every food on the shelves.
Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries, appeared to take RFK Jr's pledge to rid the food supply of artificial colors personally, and its potential impact on jobs in his district is enormous.
'I know the FDA has taken significant steps to ban or phase out synthetic food colorings over the years, and I respect that,' Rep Fleischmann said.
'Current colors, though, that have been used and are approved by the FDA have been deemed safe for many years.'
Food dyes like Red 40, which have, in high quantities, been linked to hyperactivity and developmental issues in children, are FDA-approved under the agency's Generally Recognized As Safe designation.
GRAS is a self-reporting system that allows companies to determine ingredient safety based on the conclusions of a scientific panel.
RFK Jr has the approval pathway in his cross-hairs, having said in the past that food companies have been allowed to fly under the radar for too long.
Kennedy said: 'We think we have good science that links almost all of these dyes with ADHD, with neurological injury, with cancer.'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the HHS chief and a vocal opponent of artificial food dyes, clashed with Tennessee Representative Chuck Fleischmann over the dangerous additives now found in almost every grocery item
RFK and fellow members of the administration made the industry-shaking announcement last week that it plans to work with food companies to quickly phase out the use of Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 by the end of 2026 and start using natural alternatives, which the FDA will approve or deny first.
'We've been working with the food industry and we've found the food industry very receptive,' RFK told Rep Fleischmann.
'They've agreed to phase out the two worst of them, which is Orange B and Red citrus three, and the other seven dyes within two years, and some of the food companies like Tyson's food have already eliminated them because of our talks.'
Kennedy added that the FDA has already approved three natural food dye alternatives, though: galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate.
He suggested last month that more additives could be next, telling the crowd: 'We're going to get rid of the dyes and we're going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address.
Neither Kennedy nor the FDA has stipulated whether the administration has signed formal agreements with specific food companies to ensure they comply. Industry lobbyists told Bloomberg that no deals were in place to remove the dyes.
Consuming red 40 and other dyes regularly has been linked to hyperactivity in some children with and without ADHD.
Studies have suggested that eating the dye can exacerbate symptoms or trigger behavioral changes.
Rep Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries, appeared to take RFK Jr's pledge to rid the food supply of artificial colors personally, and its potential impact on jobs in his district is enormous
Some studies have established links between the dye and changes in children's behavior and changes in hormone activity, contributing to thyroid problems
Canadian researchers have also found Red 40, also known as Allura red, can hamper the gut's ability to absorb nutrients, water, and electrolytes, increasing a person's risk of developing an inflammatory bowel disease.
They say this wearing down of the body's defenses could make people more susceptible to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
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Blue 1 is found in candies like gummy bears. Both of these ingredients have been associated with hyperactivity and inattention in children.
Several food dyes are banned or contain warning labels in Europe, where food and drug regulators have more oversight than the FDA.
Unlike European regulators, who proactively review ingredient lists and formulations before products reach store shelves, US regulators tend to take a more reactive approach.