Trump administration making progress toward eliminating artificial dyes from food products

Federal agencies are making progress toward the Trump administration's goal of eliminating artificial dyes from food products – in keeping with its "Make America Healthy Again" initiative that President Trump touted during his 2024 election campaign.

The International Dairy Foods Association has pledged to "remove artificial food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 from real milk ice cream sold in stores by December 2027," according to an announcement last week from the Food and Drug Administration and departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the association's move a "major step toward cleaner ingredients in America’s ice cream."

The ice cream makers behind the commitment produce about 90% of the ice cream and frozen dairy products sold in the U.S. 

Rollins said at a news conference last week that each one of "these endeavors helps families make better choices and pursue healthier lives."

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said the latest announcement demonstrates how the administration is holding the food industry accountable.

“The American people have made it clear – they want real food, not chemicals," he said. "Together with ... Rollins and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, we’re holding the food industry accountable and driving a nationwide effort to Make America Healthy Again," he said.

Makary said at the news conference that his agency is going to approve a new blue food dye derived from gardenia fruit. He did not say exactly when the change would be formally announced and implemented. 

In April, Kennedy announced actions to eliminate synthetic dyes from foods that are used to enhance color.

"We are going to get rid of the dyes and then, one by one, we're going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address," he said.

Kennedy and Makary think phasing out synthetic dyes will help fight chronic diseases.

"For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals," said Makary, referring to past studies done on dyes in foods. "Taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America's children healthy, but it is one important step."

In the same week as the ice cream announcement, Trump revealed that Coca-Cola had committed to using cane sugar in its sodas rather than high-fructose corn syrup. 

Kennedy had pointed out on numerous occasions in the past that Coca-Cola products in other countries contained cane sugar, and he questioned why that was not the case in the U.S.

Pepsi announced on Friday it is likely to follow Coca-Cola and use cane sugar in its products.