Latest news with #RedNo.40
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This new law bans Red No. 40 from sale, distribution in Delaware schools. What to know
Delaware is the latest state to ban Red No. 40 in schools. Here's how the new law came about. Senate Bill 69 was introduced on March 11 by Sen. Eric Buckson, R-South Dover, and aims to protect students in the First State from the potential health risks associated with Food, Drug and Cosmetic Red No. 40, a synthetic food dye made from petroleum. It contains benzene, a cancer-causing substance. SB 69 prohibits the sale or distribution of foods and beverages containing Red No. 40 during the school day in Delaware school districts and charter schools. This includes items sold in vending machines on campus or served a la carte. Recent concerns over the impact of synthetic food dyes on children's health, including potential links to behavioral issues and hyperactivity, were cited as reasons for the proposed ban. SB 69 was signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer on May 22, with the restrictions on Red No. 40 to take effect by July 1, 2026, allowing schools and education officials time to prepare for the transition. This makes Delaware only the second state, behind California, to ban Red No. 40 in schools. At least six other states have introduced similar legislation. Senate Bill 41 is a similar bill in Delaware that aims to ban Red No. 3 statewide, another synthetic food dye. This bill has yet to be decided on. More on proposed Red No. 3 ban: Along with the FDA ban, Delaware legislators seek to ban use of Red No. 3 in the state Red No. 40 is widely used and found in a variety of foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, according to Healthline, including: Flavored milk Yogurt Pudding Ice cream Popsicles Cakes and other pastries Candy Gum Breakfast cereals and bars Fruit snacks Gelatin Chips Powdered drink mixes, including some protein powders Soda Sports drinks Energy drinks More legislation news: Medical aid in dying becomes law, Inspector General bill passes Senate: The Press Room If Red No. 40 is in a product, it will be listed on the label as: Red 40 Red 40 Lake FD&C Red No. 40 FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake Allura Red AC CI Food Red 17 INS No. 129 E129 Sidewalk parking violations: Wilmington officials address complaints about vehicles parked on sidewalk Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin atkgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Red No. 40 banned in Delaware schools, second US state to do so
Epoch Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
In-N-Out Removing Artificial Ingredients From Popular Drinks
The burger chain In-N-Out says it is taking artificial dyes out of two popular drinks, shortly after federal regulators announced a ban on several dyes and plans to work with companies to remove the rest voluntarily. A spokesperson for In-N-Out told news outlets in a May 15 statement that the chain is removing artificial coloring from strawberry milkshakes and pink lemonade. The company is replacing the dyes with natural coloring. In-N-Out is also going to provide customers in the future with ketchup that contains sugar as opposed to high-fructose corn syrup. The spokesperson attributed the changes to In-N-Out's 'ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients.' The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Officials said they would be working with companies to voluntarily remove the remaining six artificial dyes that regulators have authorized. Related Stories 4/22/2025 4/28/2025 One of those dyes is Red No. 40, which has been used to color pink lemonade and strawberry milk. 'In less than 30 days of HHS and FDA announcing plans to phase out petroleum-based dyes from the nation's food supply, American fast-food chain, In-N-Out Burger, is voluntarily eliminating synthetic dyes from a few of its menu items,' Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 'I encourage more companies to prioritize Americans' health and join the effort to Make America Healthy Again,' he added. In-N-Out did not respond to a query asking whether it plans to remove dyes from additional menu items in the future. Multiple other companies have recently said they would be removing dyes in the wake of the FDA's announcement. PepsiCo 'In the next couple of years, we'll have migrated all the portfolio into natural colors or at least provide the consumer with natural color options,' CEO Ramon Laguarta told investors in a call. Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King said in a separate call that the company is working to eliminate synthetic dyes in a process expected to be finished by June. The artificial dyes have been linked in research with behavioral problems. A clinical trial of several hundred children, for instance,
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Proposed Food Dye Ban Affects More Than Candy—10 Surprising Foods You Need to Know About
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD"Key Takeaways" Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed a ban on many food dyes. Many foods, including cereals, fruit, sausage and condiments will be affected. In the meantime, you shouldn't fear these food dyes, a dietitian this year, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on food dye Red No. 3, which is commonly found in candy, grocery store baked goods, gummy vitamins and various cereal and dessert products. Since then, states like Arizona, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia have passed laws banning other synthetic food dyes from schools. But at a press conference this week, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took this initiative a step further. He announced that both the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA will start to roll out a ban on the following synthetic food dyes: Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Citrus Red 2 and Orange B. These dyes aren't just found in candy or snacks—there are produce, dairy, meat and other surprising products that will be impacted by this new legislation. But before we go through the foods affected, you may be wondering if you should worry or avoid these foods with synthetic dyes in the meantime. Our senior nutrition editor Jessica Ball, M.S., RD has an answer that will hopefully ease your nerves. 'While there is some research on the health effects of food dyes, it is limited and often done on animals rather than humans. This means there's not clear or unanimous evidence that they are harmful in moderation,' shares Ball. 'There are several more evidence-backed things that are linked with positive health outcomes, like an overall balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management, quality sleep and access to healthy foods. Those are things I would recommend focusing on rather than focusing on avoiding food dyes.' Related: Should You Worry About Food Dyes? Here's What Experts Say With that said, here are the unexpected foods that may start looking a little different if or when the food dye ban is in full effect. While it may not necessarily be shocking that cereals like Lucky Charms and Froot Loops contain food dyes like Red No. 40, Blue No. 1 and and Yellow No. 5, the amount of cereals on the market with these dyes is surprising. Cereals like Fruity Pebbles, Trix, Fruity Cheerios, Apple Jacks and Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries will need to look for new ways to create vibrant hues without the affected dyes. Ever wondered what ingredient gives Kraft's Creamy French Dressing its classic orange tone? It's Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6, which are included in the ban. Kraft's Classic Catalina dressing also has Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1—but whether dyed or dye-free, we prefer making salad dressings at home to spruce up our greens anyway. Related: How to Choose the Healthiest Salad Dressing, According to a Dietitian Did you know that some hot dogs and sausage casings are synthetically dyed with Orange B? It makes sense when you think about it, but if your go-to ball park meal starts to look a little different during the 2027 season, don't fear: it's just dye-free. Yes, even our fruit is impacted by the dye bans. The exterior peel of Florida oranges are commonly dyed with Citrus Red 2 to give the fruit that signature summer glow. And there is a reason for it. 'It is a common practice to color the skins of oranges in certain orange growing areas of the country because of climatic or cultural conditions which cause the oranges to mature while still green in color,' the FDA notes. Therefore, all oranges on the marketplace meet the maturity standards to be sold, but some are dyed to be more appealing to the consumer's eye. Don't fear if you see some green oranges once the dye ban takes effect. Canned vegetables can be a healthy, budget-friendly way to include more fiber on your plate. It's important to know that your canned peas may not be as green once food dye Blue No. 1 is removed from retail. But don't worry; they will be just as nutritious and taste exactly the same. Related: How to Choose the Healthiest Canned Fruits and Vegetables, According to a Dietitian On a similar note, preserved fruit products like jams, jellies and marmalades may have various dyes depending on the fruit. Plus, dried fruits like papaya, mango, kiwi and more may contain food dyes like Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 or Blue No. 1. It's not just yogurt marketed at children that uses food dyes. Brands like Dannon Light + Fit and Yoplait perfect their yogurt's hue with Red No. 40, Blue No. 1 or Yellow No. 6. You may find that the color of your strawberry Yoplait Light or key lime Light + Fit Greek yogurt might be toned down in the near future. Various Gatorade, Powerade and Pedialyte flavors have dyes like Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1 on their ingredients lists. But something you may not consider is that water-dissolvable drink powders like Sunkist, Country Time, 4C, Kool-Aid and Crystal Light all contain food dyes to elevate the appearance of your sip. It may be harder to know when they're fully dissolved once they're dye-free, so give it an extra shake or stir before tasting. Related: 5 Foods That Are Packed with Electrolytes, According to Dietitians Some seasoning mixes, including Great Value's Lemon & Pepper Seasoning, get their color from food dye, so the color will become more muted in your cooking once removed. But including fresh lemon, like slices on top of our highly-rated Grilled Lemon-Pepper Salmon in Foil, will help keep your dish vibrant. Alongside salad dressing, your refrigerator door may be taking a hit after the food dye ban is in full effect. Great Value's Cocktail Sauce and Vlasic's Sweet Relish are just two popular examples that use dyes like Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5, respectively. There are a lot of foods on the market that contain dyes—but there is no significant data that shows that these dyes cause any sort of harm to the body. Unless it's a personal preference, there's no need to avoid these dyes up to the ban, but just remember that your groceries may have a different hue when these food dyes are removed from the ingredients. 'As a registered dietitian and health professional, I think one of the most important things food policy can do is increase access to healthy foods for all people,' explains Ball. 'This makes it easier for folks to meet their nutritional needs, be fueled for regular exercise, nourish their families and more. Things like food access and accessible nutrition support are much more impactful and beneficial for health than avoiding food dyes.' Related: Active Recalls on Butter, Ground Beef and More to Be Aware of Right Now Read the original article on EATINGWELL
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.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The FDA will phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes used in Mountain Dew, Fruit Loops and more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday that it will phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year. '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, per CNBC. The latest initiative is part of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ongoing efforts to 'Make America Healthy Again.' At this time, the FDA and food companies — including PepsiCo, General Mills, Mars and WK Kellogg — don't have a formal agreement to remove artificial dyes, but an 'understanding,' according to Kennedy. It's unclear how the agency would enforce this ban if companies refuse to comply. 'There are a number of tools at our disposal,' Makary said. 'I believe in love, let's start in a friendly way and see if we can do this without any statutory or regulatory changes, but we are exploring every tool in the toolbox to make sure this gets done very quickly. And they want to do it — so why go down a complicated road with Congress?' The FDA is in the process of establishing a 'national standard' and a timeline for food companies to switch over from petroleum-based food dyes to natural alternatives, CNBC reported. The agency is also looking to 'revoke authorization of synthetic food colorings, including those not in production, within the coming weeks,' the outlet specified. The six dyes being targeted include Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3. Food companies are also being urged to phase out Red No. 3 by the end of new year, which is sooner than the 2027 to 2028 deadline previously required. 'For companies that are currently using petroleum-based red dye, try watermelon juice or beet juice,' Makary said. 'For companies currently combining petroleum-based yellow chemical and red dyes together, try carrot juice.'
