Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has moved to eliminate dangerous artificial food dyes from national food products, a massive step towards the overall administration's goal of Making America Healthy. A longtime concern of many ingredients-conscious Americans, petroleum-based food coloring will be phased out over the next two years, with the removal of particularly hazardous Red Dye Number 3 occurring on an accelerated timeline. In his announcement, Kennedy stated, "These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development. That era is coming to an end. We're restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public's trust. And we're doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day."
In their place, HHS is urging food and beverage producers to use natural dyes to color their products and will be approving several new alternatives to ease the transition. The dyes will also be disallowed in medications. The eight targeted petroleum dyes- sometimes referred to as the 'hateful eight'- have been shown to cause serious illnesses ranging from cancer to significant behavior issues, particularly in children.
During the event, FDA Commissioner Marty Mackery noted that for several decades, "American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals." While petroleum dyes are just a small step towards a more natural and healthy food supply, it is a tangible gesture of goodwill when so many Americans have come to see the government as one with Big Food and Drug. Studies show that up to 60% of purchasable food in the United States- a totality that includes fresh produce- contains artificial dyes. Even products that would logically seem to be devoid of dyes- such as white cake frosting- can contain petroleum-based color to make them appear pristinely bright and crisp.
This shift will enable families to make healthier choices, something that is becoming increasingly difficult as companies use more artificial ingredients to compete in a neon marketplace. Ideally, RFK Jr and his Health and Human Services team will continue to pressure food and drug companies to make decisions in favor of the consumer rather than simply marketing and profit. The ban also allows parents to feel more relaxed about food their children consume outside the home, such as during a school lunch.
Food manufacturers are expected to push back against the new regulations. Still, many have already removed the dye from products sold in other countries due to local restrictions and, therefore, have the recipes and equipment necessary to complete the transition. Other companies had begun to remove the dyes before the ban due to increasing social pressure and spending habits. As dyes only impact the color and presentation of food, rather than affecting the taste, the general end product will be minimally effected.
Do you support RFK Jr.'s move to ban artificial food dyes? What should HHS look to improve next in the health of the American people?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.