FDA says approval of 3 food dyes will help companies voluntarily switch to natural substances

As part of its attempt to force food companies to voluntarily stop using artificial food dyes, the FDA has approved three dyes that it says come from natural sources.

Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate can all be used now by any food manufacturer for color-approved items, according to an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration.

The agency says the approvals are part of its plan to phase out petroleum-based dyes but it has not proposed any official regulations or rules. The switch is purely voluntary. The FDA is, however initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — in the coming months. 

Within the voluntary framework, the FDA is “working with industry” to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes — FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1 and FD&C Blue No. 2 — from the food supply by the end of next year.

“FDA staff have been moving quickly to expedite the publication of these decisions, underscoring our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based dyes in the food supply and provide new colors from natural sources,” said FDA Commissioner Martin Makary. 

Galdieria extract blue is derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria. It is approved for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage bases, breakfast cereal coatings, candies, frozen desserts, frostings and other sweet foods. The dye is produced by the French company Fermentalg.

Butterfly pea flower extract, derived from water extraction of the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant, can achieve colors of blue, green and purple. The dye is already approved for various drinks but has been expanded to cereals, crackers, candies and different snacks. The dye is produced by the St. Louis-based Sensient Colors LLC.

Calcium phosphate is a white color. It can be used now in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar, and sugar for coated candies, among other foods. The dye is produced by Innophos Inc. of Cranbury, NJ.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made artificial food dyes a priority in his campaign to Make America Healthy Again. He and Makary have said that artificial dyes contribute to a host of health problems from obesity to autism.

Kennedy said food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent. There are currently requirements to declare artificial dyes on food labels.

“These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development,” said Kennedy. “That era is coming to an end.”

In addition to approving the three new dyes, the FDA is initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — within the coming months.

The agency is also partnering with the National Institutes of Health to conduct comprehensive research on how food additives impact children’s health and development. It is also asking food companies to voluntarily remove FD&C Red No. 3 sooner than the 2027-2028 deadline previously required.

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