HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply

Excerpt:  “The FDA is taking the following actions: 1) Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives; 2) Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months; 3) Working with industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes—FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—from the food supply by the end of next year; 4) Authorizing four new natural color additives in the coming weeks, while also accelerating the review and approval of others; 5) Partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct comprehensive research on how food additives impact children’s health and development; and 6) Requesting food companies to remove FD&C Red No. 3 sooner than the 2027-2028 deadline previously required. … The FDA is fast-tracking the review of calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and other natural alternatives to synthetic food dyes.”