Cereals, Sodas, Snacks: Thousands of Products Targeted in RFK Jr.’s Food Dye Crackdown

It’s official: Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration, has announced plans to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors from the nation’s food supply.

On Tuesday, April 22, at an event held in Washington, D.C., RFK Jr. and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to phase out seven additional petroleum-based synthetic food dyes currently permitted in food and drugs by the FDA. The FDA allows 36 food color additives, including those targeted by Kennedy and Makary.

However, as Food & Wine previously reported in January, the FDA announced a ban on Red Dye No. 3 in food, beverages, and ingestible drugs in the U.S. They noted at the time that it must be removed from food products by mid-January 2027 and from ingestible drugs by 2028.

“Why are we taking a gamble?” Makary said during his remarks, holding up a study that showcases the dangers of food dyes on children. He added that the administration does not want to wait and will attempt to remove these synthetic dyes from the food supply by the end of 2026.

Here’s what you need to know about RFK’s latest move.

Which dyes getting banned and why?

The dyes are Red 3 and 40, Blue 1 and 2, Yellow 5 and 6, and Green 3, all of which are used in countless products found on U.S. grocery store shelves, including cereal, sports drinks, candy, and baked goods. For example, Skittles alone contain Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 5 and 6, while M&M’s include Yellow 5 and 6, Red 40, Blue 1, and Blue 2.

And while Europe has not banned all of these chemicals (Red 3, for example, is still used in products like maraschino cherries, while Blue 1 is still deemed “safe“), it does require food manufacturers to disclose their presence on the product label. 

While there isn’t significant research into the effects of food dyes, officials often cite a 2021 study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which found that many food dyes and colorants could make children more susceptible to behavioral difficulties. A 2023 study published in the journal Toxicology Reports also indicates that Red 40 may cause DNA damage, colonic inflammation, and alterations to the microbiome in mice.

Here is how Kennedy and Makary plan to accomplish this monumental task.

The event was light on actual details; however, according to a press release put out by the HHS, the FDA will take the following actions: Establish a “national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives” and initiate a process to “revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — within the coming months.”

Next, it says it will work with the food 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.”

It will then authorize the use of four new natural color additives in the “coming weeks” and will expedite the review of others. Specifically, it noted that the FDA is fast-tracking the review of “calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and other natural alternatives.”

Lastly, it noted it will partner with the National Institutes of Health to “conduct comprehensive research on how food additives impact children’s health and development.” 

“I want to commend food companies for working with us to achieve this,” Kennedy said at the event, alluding to his March meeting with food giants including PepsiCo, General Mills, Tyson Foods, Kraft, Heinz, and Kellogg’s. “We’re gonna get rid of the dyes and one by one we’re going to get rid of every ingredient we can legally address.” 

The move does have some support.

“It’s encouraging to see the FDA working towards a ban on synthetic food dyes, but it’s clear that phasing them out will involve a multistep process that will take a long time to accomplish,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, shared with the Washington Post, adding that state lawmakers should continue their work in banning food dyes and other chemicals. 

This is a developing story and will be updated with new details.