Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced a plan to eliminate eight petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the food supply by the end of 2026. The dyes include Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 2, and Orange B. Blue No. 1 has been linked to behavioral issues in some children.
The FDA is starting with Red No. 2 and Orange B, revoking their authorization in the coming months. For the remaining six dyes, the FDA is working with the food industry to voluntarily phase them out by the 2026 deadline. This follows the FDA’s earlier ban of Red No. 3 in January 2025, which must be removed from food by mid-January 2027 and from drugs and cosmetics by 2028, due to its cancer-causing potential in animal studies.
To support the transition, the FDA plans to authorize four new natural color additives as alternatives. The agency will also collaborate with manufacturers to reformulate products, ensuring minimal disruption.
