On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration disclosed its plans to “phase out” eight synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026. Led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this initiative will focus on ridding U.S.-manufactured products of petroleum-based dyes, as conversations about the effects of these additives on children’s health become louder.
Correlation versus causation is a point of major controversy for this topic. The specific dyes that FDA’s new policies will impact include Blue No. One and Two, Green No. Three, Citrus Red No. Two, Orange B, Red No. 40 and Yellow No. Five and Six. Found in candy, cereals, chips, flavored beverages and other processed foods, additives are used strictly to boost the appearance of goods. However, each of these components of the artificial rainbow has recently been involved in extensive studies regarding their association with hyperactivity disorders, diabetes and even the development of cancer in humans.
This is not the first time the FDA has banned a food dye. In January of 2025, the Biden administration banned Red No. Three for use in food products. This was after evidence had been found that Red No. Three can cause cancer in male rats. Additionally, the FDA banned this dye from use in the cosmetic industry and some medications. There is no proof that consuming red dyes can lead to cancer in humans, but many scientists and politicians are arguing, “better safe than sorry,” when it comes to risking the health of children.
Neurobehavioral changes in children are also being watched as a potential outcome of consuming synthetic dyes. Some researchers have found links between these additives and the rising rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. More minor shifts in mood, including irritability and bad tempers, have also been traced back to synthetic dyes. Those who oppose Kennedy’s ban, however, claim that there are other, more valid and harmful ingredients in food products that should be singled out instead of dyes, like brominated vegetable oil.
With ongoing debates about whether Kennedy and the FDA have plausible reasons to restrict dyes, new, natural food colorings will be authorized. Galdieria extract blue, calcium phosphate, gardenia blue and butterfly pea flower extract are among them. The new measure on artificial additives leave U.S. consumers wondering what will happen to the nostalgic Froot Loops and Pop Tarts.
