The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and FDA today announced a series of new measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation's food supply. U.S.
health agencies announced that the food industry will begin "phasing out" eight artificial food dyes in the coming years. Which foods contain Red 3, the dye now banned by the FDA? Eliminating these entirely would require reformulating lots of popular foods, from cereal to candy to soda and sports drinks. The Food Dyes And Additives That Are Banned In The United States vs.
Europe, Explained By A Dietitian "It's a possibility" that more will be outlawed here. Other food dyes have been banned in states across the US. Pez candy, which contains red dye no.
3, on display at a store in Lafayette, California, on March 24, 2023. The US Food and Drug Administration announced a plan Tuesday to phase out eight petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from America's food supply in the coming months. Food and beverage companies use additives like red dye 40 to give cereal, chips, sports drinks and other products bright hues that attract shoppers.
Because of this phenomenon, artificial dyes are often added to foods to make them more appealing. The first synthetic food coloring was developed in the 1850s as a means to avoid the cost of more expensive natural food dyes. As more synthetic dyes became available, it was discovered that some contained harmful ingredients.
Earlier in 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would be banning the use of certain synthetic food dyes in the United States. This change may not come as a surprise to food manufacturers in other countries, where these coloring agents have been banned for many years. With Wednesday's ban of Red No.
3, there are now 8 artificial dyes in America's food supply. Discover what dyes remain, the health risk to humans, and the companies involved.