The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will work with major food companies to eliminate synthetic dyes such as Yellow 5 and Red 40 by the end of 2026, following mounting evidence linking them to behavioral issues in children and rising public concern.
Nicholas Florko reports for The Atlantic.
In short:
- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reached a non-binding agreement with food companies to phase out dyes including Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, and Green 3, without imposing a formal regulatory ban.
- This decision comes amid growing state-level action against synthetic food dyes, with over half of U.S. states introducing or passing legislation in 2025 echoing Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” platform.
- The FDA faces constraints in enforcing broader food reforms due to slow regulatory processes and recent staffing cuts under President Trump’s administration, raising questions about how far Kennedy’s initiative can go.
Key quote:
“I believe in love. And let’s start in a friendly way and see if we can do this without any statutory or regulatory changes.”
— Marty Makary, FDA Commissioner
Why this matters:
Synthetic food dyes have been a fixture in processed foods for decades, giving bright colors to candies, snacks, and drinks, and they’ve long raised red flags among scientists and public health advocates. Studies link several dyes to hyperactivity and attention problems in children, especially those with sensitivities. The FDA’s decision to coordinate a voluntary phaseout reflects both increasing political pressure and the fragmented patchwork of state-level bans that have made national distribution more complex for manufacturers. But while ditching synthetic dyes may remove one risk factor, it doesn’t address other major health concerns tied to ultra-processed foods, including high sugar and sodium content. The voluntary nature of this phaseout also leaves open the possibility of uneven compliance and enforcement. With only a handful of FDA staffers dedicated to reviewing food additives, the broader question remains: Can the agency keep pace with the scope of reform needed to protect public health?
Read more: Kennedy pushes food industry to eliminate artificial dyes from U.S. products
