On April 22, 2025, in Washington D.C., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced a sweeping initiative to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply, marking a significant step in the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement.

• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the FDA announced a plan on April 22, 2025, to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply.
• The FDA will establish timelines, revoke authorization for some dyes, work to eliminate others by the end of next year, and expedite approval of natural alternatives.
• This initiative, under the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, aims to address health concerns, particularly for children, regarding these artificial colorings in food.

A Push for Healthier Food

A significant move towards reforming the American food industry is underway, spearheaded by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Following his earlier declaration that “sugar is poison” (Stolberg, 2025), Kennedy has now focused on eliminating petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply. This initiative, framed under the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, aims to address concerns about the potential negative impacts of these artificial colorings, particularly on children’s health and development (FDA, 2025).

FDA Action and Industry Response

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a series of concrete steps to achieve this goal. These measures include establishing a national standard for transitioning to natural alternatives, initiating the revocation of authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, and working to eliminate six other synthetic dyes (FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Blue No. 2) by the end of next year. Simultaneously, the FDA is fast-tracking the approval of new natural color additives and is requesting food companies to remove FD&C Red No. 3 ahead of schedule (FDA, 2025).

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasized the rationale behind these actions, stating, “Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada…Given the growing concerns of doctors and parents about the potential role of petroleum-based food dyes, we should not be taking risks and do everything possible to safeguard the health of our children” (FDA, 2025).

Collaboration and Concerns

The FDA is also partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct comprehensive research on the impact of food additives on children’s health (FDA, 2025). While Secretary Kennedy expressed that “these poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development” (FDA, 2025), his earlier efforts to reform the food industry faced criticism. Concerns were raised about cuts to scientific research grants and staff reductions at key agencies like the FDA and NIH, potentially hindering the very oversight needed for these changes (Stolberg, 2025). Nevertheless, the recent FDA announcement signals a determined push to reshape the landscape of food additives in the United States.

References:

Stolberg, S. G. (2025, April 22). Health Secretary Escalates Attack on Food Industry, Calling Sugar ‘Poison.’ The New York Times.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, April 22). HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply. FDA News Release.