The United States plans on banning eight artificial food dyes in a sweeping change to many of America’s most popular snacks.
United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, are set to reveal details about this plan on Tuesday afternoon, April 22.
This massive overhaul is part of RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again‘ initiative, a commission tasked with investigating the “root causes of America’s escalating health crisis.”
As per the Associated Press, this is a process that usually requires a public announcement and an internal review, marking a massive shift in how these changes are usually brought about.
US bans synthetic food dyes in sweeping change to snacks
At the time of writing, the Food and Drug Administration allows for 36 food coloring additives, which include the eight synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that are now on the chopping block.
Companies are predicted to replace these synthetic dyes with natural alternatives, although more details will be made public in the near future.
This latest change comes after the FDA announced its plans to phase out Red 3 in food and drugs by 2028 due to studies reportedly showing that the coloring caused cancer in lab rats. Since then, the government has opted to take the rest of these synthetic food dyes off the table.
The U.S. is taking a hard stance against artificial food dyes.
“The FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs,” Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said earlier this year.
“Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No.3. Importantly, the way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”
The dye was banned in cosmetics 35 years ago, and after years of petitioning from health advocates, it has finally been prohibited in both food and medicine.
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