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Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
FDA to ban food dye: 10 foods that will look 'different' without food dyes
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to ban or phase out several synthetic food dyes , including Red 3, due to concerns about potential health risks, particularly cancer in lab rats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They are also initiating the process to revoke authorization for other synthetic dyes, such as Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, and are working with the industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes by the end of 2026. However, last month, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took this initiative a step further and 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. Now, these dyes aren't just found in candy or snacks—some produce, dairy, meat, and other surprising products will be impacted by this new legislation. As the FDA is partnering with NIH to study the impact of food additives on children's health and development, while promoting the use of natural color additives as replacements, here are the 10 foods that will 'lose their look' without the color additives! Cereal: Cereals such as Lucky Charms and Froot Loops have long been known to contain food dyes like Red No. 40, Blue No. 1, and Yellow No. 5. However, the prevalence of these dyes in many cereals—including Fruity Pebbles, Trix, Fruity Cheerios, Apple Jacks, and Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries—might be surprising. Manufacturers will need to explore alternative methods to achieve vibrant colors without using these particular dyes. Salad Dressing: Have you ever noticed the classic orange color of Kraft's Creamy French Dressing? This hue is primarily due to the inclusion of Yellow No. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 5 and Yellow No. 6, which will be banned. Additionally, Kraft's Classic Catalina dressing contains Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1. Regardless of whether these products contain dyes or not, making salad dressings at home can be a healthier and more flavorful option for enhancing greens. Sausage: It may come as a surprise that some hot dogs and sausage casings are dyed using Orange B. While this gives them a distinctly appealing look, consumers can expect a change during the 2027 season when these products will likely be dye-free. Oranges: Food dye bans even affect fresh produce. For example, Florida oranges are often dyed with Citrus Red 2 to achieve a vibrant orange peel. This practice is common due to specific climatic or cultural conditions that result in oranges maturing with a green hue. As a result, you might see more green oranges in the market once the dye ban is enacted, but rest assured, they are still ripe and ready to eat. Canned Vegetables: Canned vegetables offer a convenient and economical way to boost fiber intake. However, without food dye Blue No. 1, canned peas may lose some of their bright green color. Despite this change, their nutritional value and taste will remain unchanged. Preserved Fruit: Similar to canned vegetables, preserved fruit products like jams, jellies, and marmalades may contain various food dyes. Dried fruits such as papaya, mango, and kiwi often have dyes like Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, or Blue No. 1 added to enhance their appearance. Yogurt: Food dyes are not exclusive to children's yogurt; brands like Dannon Light + Fit and Yoplait also utilize dyes such as Red No. 40, Blue No. 1, or Yellow No. 6 for color enhancement. Consumers can expect a more subdued color in yogurt varieties like strawberry Yoplait Light or Key lime Light + Fit Greek yogurt in the future. Drink Mixes and Electrolyte Drinks: Many popular drink brands, including Gatorade, Powerade, and Pedialyte, include dyes like Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1 in their ingredients. Additionally, powdered drink mixes like Sunkist, Country Time, 4C, Kool-Aid, and Crystal Light rely on food dyes for visual appeal. Be prepared for potential differences in appearance when they come to market without these dyes; you may need to stir or shake them more thoroughly. Seasonings: Certain seasoning mixes, such as Great Value's Lemon & Pepper Seasoning, derive their color from artificial dyes. As a result, the colors in meals may appear more muted post-ban. Incorporating fresh ingredients, such as lemon slices, can help enhance the color of dishes like Grilled Lemon-Pepper Salmon in Foil. Condiments and Sauces: In addition to salad dressings, various condiments in your refrigerator will also be impacted by the food dye ban. Products like Great Value's Cocktail Sauce and Vlasic's Sweet Relish currently contain dyes such as Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5, which will be removed in the near future. Common food dye can trigger inflammatory bowel diseases: Research
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. champions ban on artificial food dyes as states follow suit
In addition to his fight against ultra-processed foods and seed oils, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing to ban artificial food dyes from the nation's food supply — and many states are following suit. Last week, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law a bill that was passed earlier this month by state lawmakers banning seven food dyes commonly found in food products and drugs. The ban applies to Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben. '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 obtained by CBS News, citing RFK Jr.'s ongoing campaign. '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.' Starting Aug. 1, the dyes will be banned from meals served through school nutrition programs, according to the governor's office. On Jan. 1, 2028, the dyes and the two preservatives will not be allowed in drugs and foods sold in the state. According to the Environmental Working Group, a food safety advocacy group, 58 states have introduced legislation targeting artificial food dyes and food chemicals. Twenty of those states — including Arizona, Oklahoma, West Virginia and New York — have introduced nearly 40 bills within the first three months of this year. Arizona's H.B. 2164, for example, would prohibit public schools from serving or selling foods containing the following additives: Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide and brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Additionally, New York's S. 1239 and A.B. 1556 would ban the sale, distribution and production of food products containing Red No. 3, potassium bromate and propylparaben. It would also ban public schools from serving or selling foods containing Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3. The recent legislation comes after California enacted the California Food Safety Act back in 2023. The law prohibits the use of four harmful additives — potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red No. 3 and BVO — in food products sold, manufactured or distributed in the state. Last year, California also enacted the California School Food Safety Act, which bans Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 from food served in public schools. Concerns about artificial food dyes have regained traction in the wake of the Trump administration. RFK Jr. and supporters claim that synthetic dyes are both unnecessary and harmful, pointing to reports linking such dyes to behavioral problems in children. Most recently, RFK Jr. urged CEOs of several food industry giants — including PepsiCo, General Mills, Smucker's, Kraft Heinz, and Kellogg's — to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products. The secretary 'expressed the strong desire and urgent priority of the administration to remove [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, or FD&C] colors from the food supply,' said Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, in a readout first reported by Food Fix. RFK Jr. reportedly 'wants this done before he leaves office' and expects 'real and transformative' change by 'getting the worst ingredients out' of food. The readout also included a statement from Kyle Diamantas, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who attended the closed-door meeting. Diamantas 'recognized the industry can't [eliminate harmful colorants and additives from the food supply] alone and that FDA will step up and work with [industry and stakeholders] to reinforce the need for a federal framework and avoid state patchworks,' per the FDA permits the use of 36 color additives in food and drinks, including nine artificial dyes. They include Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Red No. 3 and Citrus Red 2. In January, the FDA banned Red No. 3 from the nation's food supply in response to a 2022 color additive petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates. The petition found that Red No. 3 causes cancer in male laboratory rats exposed to high levels of the dye. Although similar effects were not observed in other animals and humans, they were enough for the FDA to issue a ban. Red No. 3 — which gives certain foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red hue — is commonly found in candies, artificial fruit products, processed meats, frozen desserts and baked goods and snacks. 'Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products,' the FDA said in a statement. 'Consumers could see FD&C Red No. 3 as an ingredient in a food or drug product on the market past the effective date in the order if that product was manufactured before the effective date.'
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.'
