The following information is from Children’s Health Defense.

The FDA has unveiled a six-step plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from food and medicine, citing mounting research that links the chemicals to neurobehavioral and developmental issues in children. The announcement follows pressure from health advocates, state governments, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

FDA officials laid out their plan during a press conference, where Dr. Marty Makary and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced six key steps to remove synthetic dyes:

1. Establish a national standard and timeline for replacing petrochemical-based dyes with natural alternatives.
2. Revoke authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B in the coming months.
3. Eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes — FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Blue Nos. 1 and 2 — by the end of next year.
4. Approve four new natural color additives soon, while expediting others.
5. Partner with the NIH to study the effects of food additives on children’s health and development.
6. Request early removal of FD&C Red No. 3, ahead of the previously required 2027–2028 deadline.

“Only 3% of children had chronic disease during my uncle’s time. Today it’s around 60%.”
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary

California and West Virginia have already taken bold steps to limit synthetic dyes in schools and on store shelves. These state-led efforts appear to have helped drive federal action. California banned six dyes from children’s school meals in 2024. In March 2025, West Virginia passed a broader ban on several synthetic colorants commonly used in snacks and drinks.

“Their only purpose is to make food companies money.”
— Dr. Peter Lurie, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Makary, who leads the FDA, emphasized that companies already use safer ingredients abroad, and switching to natural dyes shouldn’t raise costs. He also rejected the idea that children should be exposed to chemical additives for the sake of food aesthetics.

“Why say, ‘Let’s just take the risk because the vibrance of the colors is so appealing, it’s worth it’?”
— Dr. Marty Makary

Years of research, including a major state-backed review in 2021, have linked synthetic dyes to increased risks of hyperactivity and other behavioral concerns in children. With more than a dozen states now advancing legislation and watchdog groups maintaining pressure, the FDA’s latest move signals a major shift in how regulators address the safety of artificial additives in everyday foods.

For more information, read the article here.