Latest news with #fooddyes
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump says autism ‘has to be artificially induced'
President Trump said Thursday that autism must not occur naturally, citing figures inflating the spike in autism and suggesting the administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission could provide answers. 'When you hear 10,000, it was 1 in 10,000, and now it's 1 in 31 for autism, I think that's just a terrible thing. It has to be something on the outside, has to be artificially induced, has to be,' Trump said at a MAHA Commission event. 'And we will not allow our public health system to be captured by the very industries it's supposed to oversee. So we're demanding the answers, the public is demanding the answers and that's why we're here.' He noted that the administration is phasing out eight of the most common artificial food dyes, after the Food and Drug Administration announced actions last month to phase out the use of petroleum-based food dyes in U.S. food products, citing concerns over potential health impacts on children.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Moment RFK Jr calmly dismantles Republican over food dyes... before lawmaker's industry ties are exposed
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. Your browser does not support iframes. 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.
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Three natural food dyes approved by FDA as RFK Jr. says industry is 'stepping up'
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of three natural-source colors in food items. Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate can all be used now by any manufacturer for color-approved items. "I'm pleased to report that 'promises made' have been 'promises kept,'" FDA Commissioner Martin Makary said in a news release. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA announced a ban on petroleum-based synthetic dyes within the nation's food supply, citing health concerns. "FDA staff have been moving quickly to expedite the publication of these decisions, underscoring our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based dyes in the food supply and provide new colors from natural sources," Makary also said. Galdieria extract blue is a blue color derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria. It is approved for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage bases, breakfast cereal coatings, candies, frozen desserts, frostings and other sweet selections, according to the news release. Butterfly pea flower extract, derived from water extraction of the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant, can achieve colors of blue, green and purple. The dye is already approved for various drinks but has been expanded to cereals, crackers, candies and different snacks. Calcium phosphate is a white color. It can be used now in chicken products and candies. In a Saturday appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend," HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. detailed the announcement. He said the food industry "has really stepped up" and has been working together with federal agencies like the FDA. "The industry is coming to the table. They are talking to us. They are taking this seriously," he added. Vani Hari, Truvani founder and "Food Babe," told Fox News Digital on Monday that it's unprecedented to see the FDA moving so swiftly. "After this change, the industry will have no excuses not to convert their products to more natural sources," said Hari. "The industry will have no excuses not to convert their products to more natural sources." "Petroleum-based dyes are linked to a litany of health issues and it's time American food companies serve us the same safer ingredients they already use in other countries." Certified nutritionist and Realfoodology founder Courtney Swan told Fox News Digital, "We should have been using plant extracts all along." She added, "They exist in nature and don't have risks like the synthetic lab-made ones we've been using." Tyson Foods recently announced it intends to get rid of petroleum-based synthetic dyes from its products by the end of May, Fox News Digital reported.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
FDA will allow three new color additives made from minerals, algae and flower petals
U.S. regulators said Friday that they would allow three new color additives made from natural sources to be used in the nation's food supply. It comes after health officials pledged a sweeping phase-out of petroleum-based dyes widely used in foods from cereals to sports drinks to boost health — though action is still pending.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
FDA approves 3 natural food colors. Here's what they are and what they can be used for.
What to know about the effort to get rid of artificial food dyes The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday it has approved the use of three color additives from natural sources for manufacturers to safely use in food. The move comes amid growing concerns about the health effects of food dyes, which has led to action at state and national levels. Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. called on companies to phase out all petroleum-based dyes by the end of next year. Earlier this year, a West Virginia law announced it's plan to ban seven artificial food dyes — one of the most comprehensive statewide bans of its kind. The food dye industry has denied any safety concerns with artificial dyes. The International Association of Color Manufacturers previously said in a statement that artificial dyes are "essential for consistency, visual appeal, and consumer trust in food products." In a news release, Kennedy called the latest natural food color approvals "a major step to Make America Healthy Again," a nod to his "MAHA" slogan and movement. "For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks," he said. "We're removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives to protect families and support healthier choices." While the administration's goal is to replace petroleum-based dyes with natural alternatives in the U.S. food supply, the FDA has stopped short of an outright ban. Instead, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told reporters last month that the agency will be accelerating the review and approval of some new natural color additives. Here are the latest "natural" color additive options, which includes one new approval and two existing approvals that have been expanded: Galdieria extract blue Galdieria extract blue is a blue color derived from a species of microalgae Galdieria sulphuraria, the FDA said, adding it can be mixed with "authorized food-grade carriers and antioxidants" to stabilize the color. The color has been approved for use in a variety of beverages, including fruit and vegetable juices, fruit and dairy-based smoothies, flavored milks, yogurt drinks as well as milk-based meal replacements. Galdieria extract blue has also been approved for use in certain foods, including breakfast cereal coatings, hard and soft candy, chewing gum, flavored frostings, ice cream, frozen dairy desserts, frozen fruits, water ices, popsicles, gelatin desserts and puddings and custards, as well as dairy and non-dairy creamers and whipped toppings. Butterfly pea flower extract Butterfly pea flower extract, another blue dye that can be used to to achieve purples and greens, was already approved for use in several foods ranging from soft drinks to chewing gum. It is produced through water extraction of butterfly pea plants' dried flower petals. The latest approval expanded its use to cereals, crackers, snack mixes, pretzels and chips. Calcium phosphate Calcium phosphate, which the FDA actually describes as a "synthetically prepared powder," is a white color approved for use in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar and sugar for coated candies. The compound was already listed by the agency as "generally recognized as safe" for use as a nutrient or ingredient in food. contributed to this report.
