The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced sweeping action to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the national food supply, setting a timeline for the food industry to transition toward natural alternatives.
Under the new plan, the FDA will establish a national standard and timeline for replacing petroleum-based food colorings with naturally derived substitutes. The agency also said it will begin revoking authorization for synthetic dyes not currently in production, including Citrus Red 2 and Orange B, in the coming weeks.
By the end of next year, the FDA aims to remove the remaining six synthetic dyes still permitted in food products: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3. In addition, Red 3 — a dye already scheduled for phaseout between 2027 and 2028 — will be pulled from the market ahead of that timeline.
The Make America Healthy Again movement, driven in large part by a powerful coalition of moms across the political spectrum, became a unifying force during the 2024 election, rallying behind Donald Trump’s promise to overhaul the nation’s food and health systems. Their activism helped energize voter turnout and played a key role in securing Trump’s victory. Now, that promise is being delivered.
“If we can get beyond the tribalism in our society, rampant in our culture, we will realize that we all want the same things.” — Dr. Martin Makary, FDA Commissioner.
Watch the HHS Food Dye press conference here.
