RFK Jr. announces intent to phase out synthetic food dyes

[ThatRobGuy]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/22/food-dyes-ban-announced-rfk/

FDA plans to ban artificial food dyes by the end of the year

Federal health officials suggest the additives are contributing to rising rates of diabetes, obesity and ADHD in children.

www.phillyvoice.com

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health department announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply in a bid to ramp up pressure on an industry he has often derided.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it aims to work with the industry to eliminate six synthetic dyes — such as red dye No. 40 and yellow dye No. 5 — from the food supply by the end of 2026.


“One by one we’re going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address,” Kennedy said.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

He’ll take my Red No. 40 from my cold, dead hands!

 

[ThatRobGuy]

 

[MyOwnSockPuppet]

Sounds like the sort of thing those evil socialist Europeans would do...

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

I'm not opposed to this really.

It will be interesting to see, assuming this actually happens, what they will replace these dyes with and\or watch the sales for products dip. Food dyes are usually added to make food more appealing. Clear cherry flavored Kool-Aid is weird.

Though, I did once have a chocolate martini that was completely clear like water with a Hersey's kiss at the bottom and tasted like drinking pure cold chocolate. It was divine. I've never been able to get one anywhere since. They're always milky.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Why does it matter the method for making them or the ingredients needed? What matters is if it is toxic or carcinogenic.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Mike Bloomberg tried to tax sodas and the right lost their minds. Now Dr Brain Worms wants to kill food dyes and it’s okay.

 

[Laodicean60]

Mike Bloomberg tried to tax sodas and the right lost their minds. Now Dr Brain Worms wants to kill food dyes and it’s okay.

I remember that and was against it, but when I found out in 2020 how sugar was harming Americans, I agreed. All Rfk has to do is tell Americans we are adopting European laws.

 

[MyOwnSockPuppet]

I remember that and was against it, but when I found out in 2020 how sugar was harming Americans, I agreed. All Rfk has to do is tell Americans we are adopting European laws.

And what's more if the US adopts European food standards then you can actually export more to Europe without falling foul of those same standards labelling your food as unfit for consumption.

 

[durangodawood]

....“One by one we’re going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address,” Kennedy said.

When they finally get rid of the last ingredient, that should help with obesity.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I remember that and was against it, but when I found out in 2020 how sugar was harming Americans, I agreed. All Rfk has to do is tell Americans we are adopting European laws.

Actually, didn't California already ban some of those food dyes (or are in the process of doing so)?


Here's how you can tell people actually think it's a good idea, but don't necessarily want to give him any credit for possibly doing something good.

RFK Jr. announces a plan to ban certain food dyes, following California's lead

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the Department of Health and Human Services will work toward eliminating more than half a dozen common dyes from the U.S. food supply.

www.latimes.com

Articles are hedging it with things like "following California's lead" lol.

 

[durangodawood]

Here come the gray gummi bears.

Seriously tho, I support this expanding govt regulation. Will there be the personnel to enforce it?

 

[durangodawood]

Also, will be interesting to see how much industry push back there is against this proposal, and if its successful. One glaring hallmark of the Trump 2 admin is grandiose plans that get walked back after some CEOs kiss the ring.

 

[Bradskii]

I'm not opposed to this really.

It will be interesting to see, assuming this actually happens, what they will replace these dyes with...

Red 40 will invariably be replaced with what they used to use - and still use in some foodstuffs: cochineal. Which is the dried and ground up husks of this bug...

Mmm. Get some now before it runs out.

Amazon.com

 

[Friedrich Rubinstein]

It will be interesting to see, assuming this actually happens, what they will replace these dyes with and\or watch the sales for products dip. Food dyes are usually added to make food more appealing. Clear cherry flavored Kool-Aid is weird.

Luckily the American food industry doesn't need to invent anything on their own here, since the rest of the world already solved that problem. Sure, there might be a temporary drop in sales while the population gets used to the new standard, but replacing artificial food dyes doesn't make all food look gray or unappealing. Look at European gummy bears or M&Ms, natural dyes can produce strong colours as well.

Source

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Mike Bloomberg tried to tax sodas and the right lost their minds. Now Dr Brain Worms wants to kill food dyes and it’s okay.

They practically crucified Michelle Obama for her communist plan to make school lunches healthy.

 

[Laodicean60]

Actually, didn't California already ban some of those food dyes (or are in the process of doing so)?

This is news to me, and it's awesome. I hope more states follow. I always question my government being paid off by big food/ sugar. It doesn't surprise me that California has adopted this. The flower children of my day, talking about organics, made sense to me; they created communities, also, and there may have been voices that are still health-conscious.
This is one thing that disgusts me when we politicize people's health, because health affects EVERYONE. Kudos to California!

Government isn't doing its job: Aryeh Jay was correct, not the FDA, but the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) for the RDA.

FDA is Dropping the Ball on our Health​

 

[Bradskii]

I can't take health standards seriously from a country that has spray on cheese.

 

[Laodicean60]

Not a whole lot of media coverage from the MS on this; maybe because he was a Republican, or Big Food doesn't want you to know.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Here's how you can tell people actually think it's a good idea, but don't necessarily want to give him any credit for possibly doing something good.

RFK Jr. announces a plan to ban certain food dyes, following California's lead

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the Department of Health and Human Services will work toward eliminating more than half a dozen common dyes from the U.S. food supply.

www.latimes.com

Articles are hedging it with things like "following California's lead" lol.

California paper touts how California is ahead of the curve? Shocker...

I wouldn't surprise me if a West Virginia newspaper had a similar headline - they have a similar ban on the books as well.