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New York Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Kennedy Wants to Ban Some Food Dyes. Here's What the Data Shows.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that it would work to remove some artificial dyes from the U.S. food supply, citing concerns about how they might affect children's health. Among the dyes that the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is targeting are colorings common in ultraprocessed foods like candy, chips and some cereals. In a news conference on Tuesday announcing the effort, Dr. Marty Makary, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, linked these dyes to obesity, diabetes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cancer and other health conditions in children. Several, mostly small studies have found a link between some artificial food dyes and behavioral issues, which medical experts have said is cause for concern and warrants further research. But some said it is unclear if removing the dyes would have a meaningful effect on rates of childhood obesity, diabetes or other problems. 'Nobody's going to be sad to see the food dyes go, but it's definitely not the panacea that it's being portrayed as,' said Lindsey Smith Taillie, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. What dyes are supposed to be phased out? Dr. Makary named eight specific colorings that the agency would seek to phase out: Blue No. 1 and 2; Citrus Red No. 2; Green No. 3; Orange B; Red No. 40; and Yellow No. 5 and 6. Exactly how the agency plans to do that remains unclear. Mr. Kennedy said major food manufacturers had reached an 'understanding' with him. The F.D.A. said it would begin the process of revoking the authorizations of Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, which are not widely used. The other six would be subject to Mr. Kennedy's nonbinding agreement with manufacturers. Dr. Makary said in the news conference that the process would be complete by the end of 2026. But it remains to be seen whether that timeline is logistically possible or whether the government can enforce it. In January, during the final days of the Biden administration, the F.D.A. banned another coloring, Red Dye No. 3, from food products. Research has shown that the dye, which had already been banned from cosmetics and some medications, can cause cancer in male rats. Food manufacturers can use various natural compounds to color their products in the absence of artificial dyes, though switching a product from artificial to natural dyes requires time and testing. The F.D.A. said this week that it would 'fast-track' authorization of four alternatives: calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue and butterfly pea flower extract. There is limited evidence around the health effects of those alternatives, said Emily Barrett, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health who has studied food contaminants. What does the research show? While there is some research on food dyes and health risks, there are a few factors that make the subject hard to study. It's challenging to examine any potential long-term effects, since the dyes pass relatively quickly through the body, said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. The trials that do exist in humans, Dr. Barrett noted, have largely examined the effects in the hours right after children consume artificial dyes. Many of the studies also look at mixtures of dyes, which makes it hard to say that any one in particular is the most problematic, explained Asa Bradman, a professor of public health at the University of California at Merced who has studied food dyes. But the evidence we do have points to a connection between certain synthetic dyes and behavioral changes in some children. One 2007 study out of Britain involved giving young children drinks containing blends of food additives like Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6. The trial showed that these additives were linked with increased hyperactivity and lowered attention span over a six-week period. And in a 2021 report, scientists in California examined 27 studies in children, most of which were small, and concluded that common synthetic food dyes — FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 — can interfere with normal behavior in some children. The food industry has long said that the ingredients it uses have been well-studied and shown to be safe. Nutrition experts noted that many ultraprocessed foods that contain artificial dyes also contain a lot of sugar, sodium and saturated fat, and far fewer nutrients than fresh foods do. While ultraprocessed foods have been linked to obesity and diabetes, there is no evidence directly linking artificial dyes to either condition, said Peter G. Lurie, the president of the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest, which has lobbied to remove synthetic dyes from the food supply. When it comes to rising rates of A.D.H.D., 'it's certainly not that food dyes are the single culprit, by any means,' said Dr. Barrett, who peer-reviewed the California report. Dr. Barrett said she would welcome larger, stronger studies 'to actually answer some of these questions definitively.' Mr. Kennedy has said that the National Institutes of Health will study these kinds of food additives in more detail. Will removing the dyes make children healthier? Dr. Taillie said there was no harm in getting rid of artificial food dyes. Even if they don't cause serious health effects, she said, they don't provide benefits. But she does not expect such a switch to improve rates of obesity and chronic disease, which she said are largely driven by other ingredients in the foods that children consume, not the dyes. 'You can take the yellow dye out of mac and cheese and replace it with turmeric, but you're still giving your kid a food that's ultraprocessed and packed with sodium,' Dr. Taillie said. It's not clear what effect removing these dyes might have on children's behavior, Dr. Barrett said. Some European countries have stricter regulations on artificial colorings than the U.S., adding warning labels to foods with certain synthetic dyes. It isn't clear whether rates of A.D.H.D., for example, have decreased as a result of these policies. 'This one thing is unlikely to reduce A.D.H.D. diagnoses,' Dr. Sathyanarayana said. But, she added, it's possible that removing synthetic dyes might reduce children's symptoms in isolated cases. For example, a child who eats copious amounts of candy on Halloween may be less likely to become hyperactive afterward. Dr. Taillie expressed skepticism that manufacturers would comply with Mr. Kennedy's voluntary 'understanding.' She said that historically, mandates have been much more effective than voluntary measures at getting particular ingredients out of the food supply. For example, she said, there wasn't much movement on trans fat until the government required that it be listed on nutrition labels. Calley Means, a special government employee within the Department of Health and Human Services and an adviser to Mr. Kennedy, said, 'The food industry can do this the hard way or the easy way.' He added: 'We are confident they'll take the easy way.' In a statement on Tuesday, Melissa Hockstad, the president and chief executive of the Consumer Brands Association — which represents packaged goods companies including PepsiCo and Nestlé — said the companies she represented intended to 'increase the use of alternative ingredients.'
West Australian
24-04-2025
- Health
- West Australian
‘Toxic soup': Food dyes set for US phase out under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. health push still on Aussie shelves
All six artificial food colours set to be phased out under a Trump administration crackdown sparked by concern about their potential impact on health are freely available in foods sold in Australia. Announced this week, the move away from artificial to natural colouring alternatives is expected to affect a wide range of US products that includes the famously bright, rainbow coloured Skittles. 'For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a press conference discussing the move. He said the FDA would work with industry to eliminate food dyes Green No. 3 (known in Australia as Fast Green FCF), Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC) , Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow FCF), Blue No. 1 Brilliant Blue FCF), and Blue No. 2 (Indigotine) by the end of next year. The FDA will also revoke authorisation within months for synthetic colourings Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — which are already banned in Australia — and speed up the planned removal of Red Dye 3, which is permitted only in limited foods in Australia, including preserved cherries and icing/frosting, sooner than already planned. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes and their new look may affect their attractiveness to consumers. A spokesperson for FSANZ said it was aware of the FDA announcement, but said that the six new dyes targeted by the FDA were not harmful in the quantities allowed in the Australian food supply. 'The six colours in the FDA statement are all permitted under Schedule 16 of the Code under defined conditions of use in specific foods,' the spokesperson said. 'FSANZ surveys show that dietary exposure to food colours remains far below the acceptable daily intake, with levels under 5 per cent even including for children. These findings confirm there is no public health concern related to the use of approved food colours.' In Australia, food dyes are required to undergo a safety assessment by FSANZ before being added to food and drinks sold. A safety limit is set to ensure no-one will be able to eat the additive to an unsafe level. Backlash against artificial colours has been brewing in the US for more than a decade but the industry argues that claims the dyes were dangerous lack evidence. Last month, newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food executives that removing artificial dyes from the food system was an urgent priority of the Trump administration. He has previously used Kellogg's Froot Loops as his primary example when railing against artificial colourants. Under his so-called Make America Healthy Again platform he has argued a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy. He has pledged to end the chronic disease epidemic in children and adults, and has been vocal about making nutritious food, rather than drugs, central to that goal. Rather than an outright ban, Mr Makary said the FDA would work with industry to do it voluntarily. Mr Makary said the agency plans to authorise four additional colour additives using natural ingredients in the coming weeks, while also expediting the review and approval of other natural ingredient colours. He cited a Lancet study that concluded that artificial colours in the diet 'result in increased hyperactivity'. 'The F in FDA stands for food,' he said. 'Now, there's no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let's be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America's children healthy, but it is one important step.' — with CNBC
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Food dyes targeted in US crackdown still on Aussie shelves
All six artificial food colours set to be phased out under a Trump administration crackdown sparked by concern about their potential impact on health are freely available in foods sold in Australia. Announced this week, the move away from artificial to natural colouring alternatives is expected to affect a wide range of US products that includes the famously bright, rainbow coloured Skittles. 'For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a press conference discussing the move. He said the FDA would work with industry to eliminate food dyes Green No. 3 (known in Australia as Fast Green FCF), Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC) , Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow FCF), Blue No. 1 Brilliant Blue FCF), and Blue No. 2 (Indigotine) by the end of next year. The FDA will also revoke authorisation within months for synthetic colourings Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — which are already banned in Australia — and speed up the planned removal of Red Dye 3, which is permitted only in limited foods in Australia, including preserved cherries and icing/frosting, sooner than already planned. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes and their new look may affect their attractiveness to consumers. It's expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes. Credit: beats_ - A spokesperson for FSANZ said it was aware of the FDA announcement, but said that the six new dyes targeted by the FDA were not harmful in the quantities allowed in the Australian food supply. 'The six colours in the FDA statement are all permitted under Schedule 16 of the Code under defined conditions of use in specific foods,' the spokesperson said. 'FSANZ surveys show that dietary exposure to food colours remains far below the acceptable daily intake, with levels under 5 per cent even including for children. These findings confirm there is no public health concern related to the use of approved food colours.' In Australia, food dyes are required to undergo a safety assessment by FSANZ before being added to food and drinks sold. A safety limit is set to ensure no-one will be able to eat the additive to an unsafe level. Backlash against artificial colours has been brewing in the US for more than a decade but the industry argues that claims the dyes were dangerous lack evidence. Last month, newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food executives that removing artificial dyes from the food system was an urgent priority of the Trump administration. He has previously used Kellogg's Froot Loops as his primary example when railing against artificial colourants. Under his so-called Make America Healthy Again platform he has argued a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy. He has pledged to end the chronic disease epidemic in children and adults, and has been vocal about making nutritious food, rather than drugs, central to that goal. Rather than an outright ban, Mr Makary said the FDA would work with industry to do it voluntarily. Mr Makary said the agency plans to authorise four additional colour additives using natural ingredients in the coming weeks, while also expediting the review and approval of other natural ingredient colours. He cited a Lancet study that concluded that artificial colours in the diet 'result in increased hyperactivity'. 'The F in FDA stands for food,' he said. 'Now, there's no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let's be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America's children healthy, but it is one important step.' — with CNBC
New York Times
24-03-2025
- Health
- New York Times
West Virginia Bans 7 Artificial Food Dyes, Citing Health Concerns
In the most sweeping move of its kind, West Virginia has banned foods containing most artificial food dyes and two preservatives, citing their potential health risks. The legislation, signed into law Monday by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, will go into effect in 2028. At least 20 states are considering similar restrictions on food chemicals, but West Virginia is the first to ban virtually all artificial dyes from foods sold statewide. The new law will also prohibit products containing the dyes from being served in school meals starting this August. 'Everybody realizes that we've got to do something about food in general,' said Adam Burkhammer, a Republican state representative who introduced the bill in February. It quickly passed both legislative houses with broad bipartisan support. Mr. Burkhammer said he hopes the law will improve the health of children in his state and spur other states to take similar actions. California has passed similar measures, though they were narrower in scope. One, passed in 2023, banned four food additives statewide. And in 2024, state lawmakers banned artificial food dyes from school meals. Jennifer Pomeranz, an associate professor of public health policy and management at New York University, said the California measures likely led state lawmakers to realize they could move faster than the Food and Drug Administration to act on food additives that carried health concerns. She added that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as health secretary last month and has spoken frequently of his concerns about food dyes, has also brought more attention to the issue. Earlier this month, at a meeting with executives from large food companies including PepsiCo and General Mills, Mr. Kennedy said that it was an 'urgent priority' to eliminate artificial dyes from foods and drinks sold nationwide. At another meeting, he encouraged people to call Gov. Morrissey in support of the West Virginia law. The state's law will ban seven food dyes: Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Red No. 40 and Red No. 3. (Red No. 3 was banned from foods, beverages and drugs in California in 2023 and by the Food and Drug Administration in January of this year.) The dyes are used to add vivid colors to a range of products, many designed to appeal to children, including breakfast cereals, snack foods, baked goods and candies. A 2021 review of scientific studies by California state scientists concluded that consuming the dyes may increase hyperactivity and other behavioral problems in some children. The F.D.A. has maintained that food dyes (with the exception of Red No. 3) are safe when used according to regulations. West Virginia will also prohibit the use of two preservatives. The first is propylparaben, which was also banned in the 2023 California law; it now appears to be used in few foods but was previously used in products including tortillas, chips, processed cheeses and packaged baked goods. Some research, mostly conducted using animals, suggests that propylparaben may interfere with hormones in the body. The other is butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHA, which prevents fats from going rancid and is used in processed meats, frozen meals, snack foods and other products. A National Toxicology Program review of the research on BHA concluded that it is 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' The authors noted, however, that much of the research on dietary BHA exposures and cancer has been focused on animals, and that there isn't sufficient evidence from humans to evaluate the relationship between cancer and BHA. The F.D.A. has designated both BHA and propylparaben to be 'generally recognized as safe' when used in small amounts in foods. But this designation is not reassuring, said Scott Faber, a senior official at the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group that has long pushed for stricter regulation of food chemicals. The agency's 'generally recognized as safe' policy allows companies to introduce ingredients without adequate safety testing, he said. It isn't clear how, exactly, the ban will take effect. Mr. Burkhammer said he expects food manufacturers to reformulate products with natural dyes and alternative preservatives so that they can be sold in West Virginia and in other states that may adopt similar legislation. Food industry groups have opposed the West Virginia law, as they have done with similar measures in California and other states. 'Unfortunately, not only will this bill ignore the F.D.A.'s rigorous science- and risk-based process of evaluating safe ingredients, it will also limit consumer access to affordable, nutritious and convenient food and beverage choices,' wrote Sarah Gallo, the senior vice president of product policy at the Consumer Brands Association, which represents packaged food and drink companies. Mr. Faber, who formerly worked as a lobbyist for the same association, took issue with this argument. 'I'm sure I said the same thing about the industry and I may have even believed that to be true,' he said. But, he said, food companies already make the same products without these ingredients to sell in other countries. 'Once states start banning unsafe ingredients, the food industry is not going to create food products for specific states,' Dr. Pomeranz predicted. 'They'll reformulate for the whole country, the way they've done in Europe.'
