Image by Hans Schwarzkopf from Pixabay
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that they have given the green light for three approved food colors to replace banned synthetic petroleum-based dyes. This a few weeks after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and FDA released a plan to phase out harmful synthetic dyes.
A move that supports the Make America Healthy Again initiative of taking harmful substances out of the food supply.
In the original press statement, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. explained that Americans have been fed toxic dyes. All with the assumption that it is safe.
“For too long, some food producers have been feeding American’s petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” he said. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development. That era is coming to an end.”
Kennedy explains that the plan is to restore “gold-standard science” and “applying common sense” in an effort to “earn back the public’s trust.”
“We’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day.”
There are nine dyes on the banned list. One has already been banned, and another had already been targeted to be phased out by 2028.
Banned dyes include:
Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B will be revoked in the next few months. Red Dye No. 3 will be accelerated with the rest of these dyes, with a plan to remove them from the food supply by the end of next year.
On May 9, 2025 the FDA announced that it has officially allowed three new approved food colors for use in food. A necessary step to allow industry to begin the process of replacing the existing synthetic dyes.
In the announcement, HHS Secretary Kennedy announces that “today we take a major step to Make America Healthy Again.”
“For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks. We’re removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives – to protect families and support healthier choices.”
More U.S. food manufacturers have committed to removing the petroleum-based food dyes by the end of next year in favor of the newly approved food colors.
FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. says that more new color additives will be added to the approved food colors list soon.
“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 resources.”
The three newly approved food colors include Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate.
The galdieria extract blue comes from the unicellular red algae called Galdieria sulphuraria. It imparts a blue color on approved food products. The petition for this new food color was submitted by the French company, Fermentalg.
Galdieria extract blue has been approved for use in:
Galdieria extract blue is slated to replace Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2.
The butterfly pea flower extract comes from dried petals from the butterfly pea plant. The additive is produced through a water extraction method on the flower petals.
This food color additive is already approved for use in sports drinks, fruit drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, alcoholic beverages, dairy drinks, ready to drink teas, nutritional beverages, gum, candy, coated nuts, ice creams, and yogurt.
The new petition, submitted by St. Louis-based Sensient Colors LLC expanded the approve use to other foods.
Butterfly pea flower extract has been approved for use in:
Butterfly pea flower extract will likely also replace Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2.
Calcium phosphate is a synthetically prepared powder that imparts a white color. While not exactly natural, it is naturally occurring in bones and teeth.
The petition to add calcium phosphate to the approved food colors list was filed by Innophos Inc. of Cranbury, New Jerey.
Calcium phosphate has been approved for use in:
This food color likely will not replace a single existing synthetic dye, but likely a combination used in food chemistry to achieve the desired white color.
These three approved food colors were likely expedited because they have already been approved for use in other foods. Their approval only extended the allowed foods.
Several colors are missing from the spectrum. A replacement for reds, yellows, and greens will likely be coming soon. If we remember lessons about primary colors, just about all colors can be made from these few options.
Why do we need new dyes anyway? What’s wrong with previously used dyes?
Experts have linked petroleum-based synthetic dyes to many adverse neurobehavioral symptoms. Problems like hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. The risk for children and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is especially high.
Other dyes have been linked to cancer and a slew of other health problems.
While we may see less vibrant colors in our breakfast cereals and candy, I expect the reach is much farther than we realize. Dyes are put in many different foods to make them look less bland and more appealing. It will be interesting to see what the future of food looks like.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Make Food Colorful Again! FDA Announces Approved Food Colors to Replace Banned Synthetic Dyes,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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