WASHINGTON – Today, following the lead of state legislators, the Trump administration announced an understanding with industry to phase out harmful petroleum-based synthetic food dyes.
The dyes serve no purpose beyond making ultra-processed food brighter and more appealing. And they’re linked to serious health harms, including neurobehavioral problems in children.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said they plan to phase out dyes by the end of 2026.
While the announcement is welcome, the FDA for decades has failed to act on banning dyes in food. The FDA waited more than 30 years to prohibit the known carcinogen Red Dye No. 3 from food and drink, despite banning it from cosmetics in 1990 due to its health harms. That inaction led states to take the lead on regulating or banning these concerning chemicals.
In 2024, California enacted a law, co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, banning six harmful dyes from food served in the state’s public schools.
Earlier this year, West Virginia banned nine chemicals, including seven artificial dyes, from food.
So far in 2025, three states – Arizona, Utah, Virginia – have banned seven dyes from school foods.
Overall, more than 15 other states have introduced legislation to regulate the use of the same dyes in food and beverages.
The following is a statement from Melanie Benesh, EWG vice president for government affairs:
The Food and Drug Administration has known for decades that synthetic food dyes are linked to health problems, particularly in children, but has failed to act.
We’re hopeful that the FDA may follow the lead of states like California and West Virginia by finally announcing their intent to ban dyes. We’re grateful that states like California and West Virginia have forced the FDA to make food safety a bigger priority.
To be clear, however, an understanding with industry is neither a settlement nor a ban.
Benesh urged the FDA to quickly take action on other toxic food chemicals, including some linked to cancer.
This statement was updated at 5:34pm EST, April 22, 2025.
