Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will begin the process of phasing out eight remaining artificial food dyes approved for use in the U.S., the department announced Monday. The initiative will take place over the next two years and will apply to a wide range of processed foods, including cereals, snacks, yogurts, and desserts.
Further details are expected to be shared during a Tuesday press conference in Washington, D.C., where Kennedy will appear alongside Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary.
The new effort follows a broader trend of limiting synthetic additives in the food supply. Earlier this year, the Biden administration initiated the removal of Red No. 3, an artificial dye linked to cancer in animal studies. That dye is scheduled to be eliminated from foods by 2027 and from medications by 2028.
The eight additional dyes under review are also petroleum-based and currently approved by the FDA. While none have been proven to cause cancer in humans, some have been linked to allergic reactions, hyperactivity in children, and other behavioral effects in limited studies. The FDA has maintained that these dyes are safe at currently approved levels, though that position has come under increasing scrutiny.
The move comes after a meeting last month between Kennedy and food industry leaders, where he encouraged companies to voluntarily begin transitioning away from synthetic dyes. According to a memo from that meeting, Kennedy expressed his desire to see such changes completed by the end of his term. The timeline he will announce Tuesday accelerates that goal.
A person familiar with the department’s plans also said Kennedy is expected to authorize an expanded list of natural food dyes, which could serve as replacements in reformulated products.
While the enforcement strategy has not been finalized, the new policy is expected to send a strong signal to manufacturers that the administration is prioritizing changes in food labeling and ingredient standards.
Several states have already taken their own steps to limit synthetic food dyes. West Virginia will implement a ban on artificial dyes in school meals starting this August, and California has passed a similar law set to take effect in 2028. More than 20 other states are currently considering legislation aimed at limiting chemical additives in food.
In 2021, a two-year study from California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that some synthetic dyes could affect children’s behavior and concluded that the FDA’s existing intake limits may not be sufficient to protect public health.
