The Blubber

The United States will ban eight widely used artificial food dyes in an effort to help Americans “know what’s in their food,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Tuesday.

Officials said two of the dyes—both petroleum-based synthetics—will be phased out in the coming weeks, with the remaining six scheduled for removal by the end of 2026.

The dyes, found in a wide range of products such as cereals, candies, snacks, and beverages, have been linked by experts to neurological issues in some children.

To help food manufacturers transition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will approve four new natural color additives in the coming weeks.

“Americans don’t know what they’re eating,” Kennedy said during a press conference.

Kennedy, who campaigned alongside Donald Trump, had pledged last year to target artificial food dyes and ultra-processed foods if confirmed to lead the nation’s top health agency.

On Tuesday, he also committed to going after additional additives, stating, “We’re going to look at every ingredient, every additive in school food that we can legally address.”

According to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), most artificial food dyes are synthetic chemicals derived from petroleum.

Common items containing such dyes include M&M’s, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and Skittles.

“For 50 years, American children have increasingly been exposed to a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said. He acknowledged that while removing food dyes won’t solve everything, it represents “one important step” toward better children’s health.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the FDA will revoke approval for Red No. 2 and Orange B “in the coming months.” The six other dyes—FD&C Green No. 3; FD&C Red No. 40; FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6; and FD&C Blue Nos. 1 and 2—will be eliminated from the food supply by the end of 2026.

“The only reason these dyes are in our food is to help companies sell more products,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president of CSPI and a former FDA official. “They make ultra-processed foods look more appealing, especially to kids, by masking the lack of real ingredients like fruit.”

Companies have already replaced synthetic dyes with natural alternatives in many countries, including the UK and New Zealand. For example, in Canada, Kellogg uses fruit and vegetable juices to color Froot Loops, while the U.S. version still contains artificial dyes.

Former NYU nutrition professor Marion Nestle said the health risks associated with synthetic dyes are still debated. “They clearly cause behavioral issues in some—but not all—children and have been linked to cancer and other diseases in animal studies,” she said. “There are enough concerns to justify getting rid of them, especially since there are plenty of non-petroleum alternatives already in use.”