Artificial Colors Are Being Phased Out - What You Need to Know
From consumer demand to regulatory action, the pressure to eliminate artificial colors from food and beverage products has been intensifying. Following years of advocacy, U.S. regulatory bodies are now formally targeting synthetic dyes, and companies across sectors – from supplements to dairy – are already shifting gears.
Federal Agencies Prioritize Synthetic Dye Removal
On May 3, 2025, the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services announced a coordinated plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s food chemical review process and address links between food additives and chronic disease.
The FDA’s approach includes:
- Partnering with industry to voluntarily phase out six synthetic dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3, in addition to the already-restricted Red 3
- Initiating the process to remove authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B
- Supporting the development of natural colorant alternatives and collaborating with NIH to study additive health impacts
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated that the FDA and NIH are now focused on understanding how ultraprocessed foods and food additives contribute to chronic disease, which could result in far-reaching impact on food and beverage formulations.
Industry Reacts: Supplement and CPG Brands Adapt Despite Concerns
The regulatory shift is being met with swift changes across industries. An International Regulatory Affairs Manager at a global supplement company shared:
“The new federal guidance to move away from artificial food colors shows how much we’re learning about their potential impact on health. For us, the focus will be on quickly phasing out those ingredients within our products as we continue moving toward cleaner, more natural options. It’s all part of making food that’s safer and more transparent.”
Larger food manufacturers are also acting quickly. In a recent LinkedIn post, Danone North America CEO Dan Magliocco underscored the company’s leadership on this issue:
“We do not use synthetic colors in 98% of our portfolio of hundreds of products here in the U.S. AND we are working with our suppliers to remove them from the remaining 2%.”
While some companies are focused on making changes to their products as quickly as possible, others are more hesitant and concerned about the implications. According to a report by Food Dive, candy manufacturers argue that the timeline to remove artificial dyes is far too aggressive. They say the limited availability of natural color alternatives, potential changes in product taste and appearance that could impact product sales, and the financial burden of reformulating products are all serious challenges to implementing the FDA’s proposal.
Regardless, the regulatory landscape is shifting, and companies are following suit. Food Dive reported that the CEO of McCormick has seen a “significant amount of step up in activity” in reformulation with food companies from brand new brands to industry giants and that manufacturers of natural alternatives are increasing capacity in response to the demand.
How ENTR Can Help
ENTR is designed to help food and beverage companies get ahead of regulatory change.
Our platform makes it easy to:
- Flag synthetic dyes and restricted ingredients in real time, right in your formulations
- Stay current on federal and state-level bans impacting your product portfolio
- Build compliant formulations quickly, with full transparency and real-time results
Whether you’re removing Red 40 or aligning with upcoming bans in California and West Virginia, ENTR helps you take action with confidence.
📩 Need help setting banned ingredient targets or updating your compliance filters? Contact us to get started with ENTR.
