Latest news with #RedDye
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Are food dyes getting banned in the US and why? What know to about 8 dyes being phased out
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced plans to remove certain artificial dyes from the U.S. food and drug supply on April 22, taking a step toward fulfilling one of his campaign promises. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared intentions to "phase out" petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year during a press conference in which Kennedy called the additives "poison," saying, "For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent." While the FDA has said that "the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives, but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them," food advocates have commended the move, saying it's a step in the right direction. Here's what to know about the dyes that the FDA is looking to remove from American food. The FDA announced on April 22 that they will "phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation's food supply" by the end of 2026. However, no formal agreement or legislation was passed officially banning the substances. Instead, HHS and the FDA have a "mutual understanding" with the food industry that the dyes will be progressively removed, according to Kennedy. During an April 22 press conference, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency intends to revoke approvals for certain dyes and work alongside industry leaders to achieve elimination of the additives. A press statement released by the FDA also said it is working to "establish a national standard and timeline for the transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives," but did not further specify formal regulatory or legislative actions. A statement from the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), however, called the agreement's voluntary nature "disappointing" for its lack of "rulemaking." "Because using synthetic food dyes has always been voluntary, there is no incentive from today's announcement for manufacturers to switch to natural food colors." The FDA will authorize four new natural color additives and partner with the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on "how food additives impact children's health and development," according to the HHS. Studies have been done on the impacts of commonly used synthetic food dyes, some of which have found links to conditions like cancer, ADHD and organ damage. However, a universal scientific consensus on how much dye has to be consumed to prove a definitive cause-and-effect link between it and these health conditions has yet to be reached. As a result, different countries have implemented different rules over time as the scientific community learns more about the potential correlation between food additives and health. Red Dye 40 (Allura Red or FD&C Red No. 40): Creates a dark red color and is commonly used in candy, cereals, sports drinks, frosting, condiments, gelatin, jams and more. Yellow Dye 5 (Tartrazine or FD&C Yellow No. 5): A lemon-yellow color often found in candy, cereal, soft drinks, popcorn, yogurt, juices, spices and more. Yellow Dye 6 (Sunset Yellow or FD&C Yellow No. 6): An orange-yellow dye used in candy, sauces, baked goods, preserved fruit, cheese, soups, cereals and more. Blue Dye 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF or FD&C Blue No. 1): Creates a greenish-blue color seen in ice cream, canned peas, soups, popsicles, icing, confections, dairy products and more. Blue Dye 2 (Indigo Carmine, FD&C Blue No. 2 or Indigotine): A royal blue color commonly found in candy, ice cream, cereal, snacks, sausages, maraschino cherries and more. Green Dye 3 (Fast Green FCF or FD&C Green No. 3): A forest green dye often found in canned vegetables, cereal, candy, ice cream, salad dressing, soft drinks and more. Also coming within months is an action to remove the use of: Citrus Red 2 (C.I. Solvent Red 80): Is used only to color the skin of oranges in the U.S., specifically Florida oranges. It is used to make the skins a more vibrant color but is now allowed to be used on the inner, edible parts of the fruit. Orange B (C.I. Acid Orange 137): Is again used only for one purpose: hot dog and sausage casings. The dye itself is also no longer made in the U.S., limiting its use even further. Some dyes that have been banned in the U.S. are still used in other countries like Canada and those in the European Union, while some still used in the U.S. are banned in other such countries. Some food dyes already banned from the US include: Red No. 3: was already in the process of being phased out in the U.S. thanks to a Biden-era order mandating it be removed by Jan. 15, 2027. The new administration has since asked that this deadline be moved up. Reds 1, 2, 4 and 32: Banned in 1961, 1976 and 1956, for potential (but disputed) links to cancer and organ damage. Yellows 1, 2, 3 and 4: Were all banned in 1959 after they were potentially linked to lesions and heart damage. Violet 1: Banned in 1973 due to suspected link to cancer. Orange 1 and 2: Banned in 1956 and 1960 for potential links to organ damage. Green 1 and 2: Both banned in 1965 due to a potential link to cancer. Sudan 1 and Butter Yellow: Banned in 1919 after it was found to be toxic and potentially carcinogenic. Some U.S. states were already moving toward removing some food dyes separate from the federal government. Red 3, for example, was banned in California, along with Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, via a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024. The most popular food dyes are Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, according to Healthline. These three make up 90% of all the food dye used in the U.S. According to the FDA, food coloring is used to: Offset color loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage conditions. Correct natural variations in color. Enhance colors that occur naturally. Provide color to colorless and "fun" foods. Because natural dyes are less shelf-stable than artificial ones, some food products may look different after the proposed switch is made. Naturally derived coloring is more susceptible to fading and degradation when exposed to elements like heat, light and air, so while foods may have the same general color profile, you may notice they appear less vibrant. Natural dyes are also generally more expensive to make and use, so companies changing their formulas to adhere to the FDA's requests may have to make adjustments to preserve their bottom line, though it is unclear if these additional costs could be passed on to the consumer. Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY; Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See full list of food dyes being phased out in the US, says RFK, Jr.
Fox News
26-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
West Virginia passes first-of-its-kind law banning food dyes and preservatives; Gov cites MAHA movement
West Virginia will begin prohibiting certain synthetic dyes and additives used in food items sold in the state following the passage of a bill that marks the most comprehensive effort to regulate food ingredients at the state level. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, on Monday signed House Bill 2354 into law, which will implement the ban on a tiered basis. Starting Aug. 1, seven different artificial food dyes will no longer be allowed for use in school lunches. Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, the same food dyes and two additional food preservatives will not be allowed in any food products sold in the state. Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2 and Green Dye No. 3 will all be banned from school lunches starting in August. The same food dyes, plus the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, will then be banned from all food items sold in the state beginning in 2028. While several states have introduced or passed similar bills, West Virginia's marks the broadest and most sweeping action on this issue by any state, per local and national media reports. Proponents of the West Virginia bill have suggested the move will help improve health outcomes, particularly for children, but those who are against it argue the move will lead to higher food prices. "West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there's no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission," Morrisey said after signing the new bill. "By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges." Morrisey also thanked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration "for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia." Earlier this month, Kennedy instructed FDA officials to explore potential changes to its "Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)" standards that apply regulatory classification to substances added to food. Kennedy has long been a proponent of food safety and said as HHS secretary he wants to promote "radical transparency" on the issue. "We want the dyes out of the food," Kennedy told Fox News earlier this month. The issue isn't entirely a Republican one, either. In January, under former President Joe Biden, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its authorization of Red Dye No. 3 following pressure from consumer advocates. However, American Beverage, a leading national trade organization representing the nation's top non-alcoholic beverage companies, said the new West Virginia bill will significantly limit consumer choices, raise grocery store prices, impact jobs and impose new costs on businesses. "We want to be really clear about the impact of this sweeping ban, it will hurt West Virginians, both consumers, workers and the overall economy, all over ingredients that have been proven safe," said Meridith Potter, American Beverage senior vice president. "West Virginians deserve choice, information and facts, not fear," Potter added. "The fact is, this bill will take away choices from West Virginians by eliminating products in nearly every aisle of the grocery store." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Virginia bans 7 artificial food dyes, citing health concerns
West Virginia has outlawed foods that contain some artificial dyes or other additives, in one of the most comprehensive statewide bans of its kind. The move cites potentially harmful health effects and comes amid a broader push from scientists and government leaders to clamp down on synthetics in the nation's food supply. On Monday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law a bill that was passed earlier by legislators to eliminate seven artificial dyes — Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2 and Green Dye No. 3 — from food products and drugs sold in the state. The preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben will also be banned. The dyes will not be allowed in meals served as part of school nutrition programs starting on Aug. 1 this year, while the dyes and the two preservatives will not be permitted in drugs and food sold in the state starting on Jan. 1, 2028, according to the governor's office. "West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there's no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission," Morrisey said in a statement, citing the campaign slogan popularized by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said he is prioritizing the removal of artificial dyes from food and drinks sold around the United States. "By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges." The latest ban in West Virginia follows a pair of laws passed in California in recent years to remove some additives from foods sold statewide and synthetic dyes from school meals. Dozens of other U.S. states have introduced legislation to ban or more strictly regulate certain food additives, including artificial dyes, since the beginning of the year, according to the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization focused on food safety. Thirty-six color additives are approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use in food and drinks in the U.S., including nine artificial dyes. Rising concerns from advocacy groups and scientists about possible health consequences of synthetic food components, particularly for children, prompted the FDA to undertake a new effort in December to review previously approved additives, although the agency's deputy commissioner for human foods warned at the time that budget restrictions might prevent a timely turnaround. In January, the FDA announced its decision to revoke the authorization for one dye, Red 3, to be added to foods, after evidence showed a link between the dye and cancer in laboratory animals. Sen. Rand Paul says he thinks Supreme Court will uphold the Alien Enemies Act for deportations George Clooney: The 2025 60 Minutes Interview Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on their Broadway "Othello"
