In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Thursday that federal safety standards for food dyes will be reviewed immediately.
The decision follows mounting pressure from health advocates calling for removing synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply.
.@SecKennedy: "We want the dyes out of the food… One of the things that we're doing is we've launched a review of the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) standards and we're going to get rid of the GRAS standards for most products… That designation was expanded by an industry… pic.twitter.com/xXUtKUd4zO
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2025
The FDA’s Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) guidelines, which exempt certain food additives from premarket safety testing, will be central to the review. Critics have long argued that the GRAS system has allowed food manufacturers to bypass stringent safety assessments, putting public health at risk.
Among the dyes facing scrutiny are Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1, which have been linked to hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and potential carcinogenic effects.
“The bottom line is we shouldn’t allow marketing departments’ desire for vibrant colors to replace the health and safety of our families,” said Dr. Joseph Varon, Independent Medical Alliance president and chief medical officer.
Notably, Red No. 3, already banned in cosmetics due to its association with thyroid tumors in animal studies, is set for a U.S. food ban within the next few years.
Consumer safety organizations have highlighted inconsistencies in regulatory approaches, pointing out that many of these dyes are banned or heavily restricted in other countries, including the European Union.
While some advocate banning synthetic food dyes, not everyone sees this as warranted.
The International Association of Color Manufacturers defends their safety, pointing to a wealth of studies and regulatory oversight showing these dyes pose no threat when kept within approved levels. They argue that colors are key to making food visually inviting without compromising consumer well-being. They also worry that bans fueled more by public unease than hard proof might kick off a wave of knee-jerk food rules.
HHS has not yet provided a timeline for the completion of its review, but the announcement signals a growing recognition of concerns surrounding artificial food dyes. Advocates hope the process will lead to stricter regulations and, ultimately, the elimination of harmful additives from the nation’s food supply.