HHS Secretary Kennedy to unveil plan to rid US food supply of petroleum-based synthetic dyes

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday will announce the details of a plan to remove petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply.

Kennedy will be joined by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary in discussing the proposal, according to an HHS press release.

The FDA has approved 36 food dyes that are commonly used in soda, candy and cereal – among them Red No. 3, Blue No. 1 and Green No. 3. 

The FDA under the Biden administration banned Red Dye No. 3, which some studies have linked to health problems, before President Trump took office and Kennedy was sworn in as HHS secretary. 

States including Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts and West Virginia have made state-level efforts to get dyes out of food served in schools.

Kennedy said he wants eight commonly used food dyes phased out by the end of 2026, according to The New York Times.