Title: US Health Officials to Phase Out Artificial Dyes in Food
The FDA, led by Commissioner Makary, will be ditching petroleum-based artificial colors from our food supply by the end of 2026. So, say goodbye to all those brightly colored foods lining the shelves at your local grocery store.
Makary believes that getting rid of these fake dyes will do wonders for the health of our little ones. He’s basically saying we’ve been using kids as lab rats for the past five decades, without even asking for their permission.
Some health experts have been pushing for this change for a while now. They claim these artificial dyes can mess with kids’ heads, making them hyperactive and unable to focus. The FDA, though, insists they’re safe and most kids won’t have any problems.
The FDA currently allows 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. And that Red 3 dye? Yeah, it’s out by 2027 because it gave rats cancer. Yikes.
People in Canada and Europe have been avoiding these artificial colors for a while now. They even have warning labels on products that use them. But here in the U.S., we’ve been chowing down on them like there’s no tomorrow.
Advocates are thrilled about this change, saying these dyes are bad for you and don’t add anything to the food. They’re just there to make money for the big food companies.
A group of moms, known as MAHA moms, have been fighting for this for years. They even protested outside Kellogg’s headquarters last year, demanding they ditch the artificial dyes in their cereals. And guess what? They won!
But not everyone is on board with this change. Food manufacturers are worried they won’t have enough alternatives. They might have to start importing pricier stuff from other countries.
And let’s not forget, this whole Red 3 dye thing is old news. It’s been linked to cancer for ages and other countries have already banned it.
The National Confectioners Association wants more time to find better options. And some experts think this whole dye removal thing won’t solve America’s health problems. They say it’s more of a distraction.
It usually takes a whole lot of scientific evidence before the FDA bans anything. But this time, they’re moving pretty fast. Maybe they’re scared of making Trump mad.
The dairy industry has already promised to get rid of artificial colors in school meals by 2026. And some states are banning these dyes even sooner. West Virginia’s schools are dye-free starting August 1st.
But don’t worry, food companies are already looking for natural coloring alternatives. So, maybe we won’t miss those artificial dyes after all.
