The FDA recently decided to allow food companies to label their products as “no artificial colors” as long as they avoid petroleum-based dyes. In the past, this label could only be used if there were no artificial food dyes at all.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised this change, calling it important progress toward using more natural dyes. However, not everyone agrees. Critics, like Kelly Ryerson from the MAHA movement, worry this might confuse shoppers who want to avoid all additives. “While this change is big,” she said, “natural dyes can still have their own additives.”
Thomas Galligan, a food additives expert, expressed frustration as well. He argued that easing labeling requirements could mislead consumers. “It feels like they are offering a solution, but really they’re letting companies do what they please,” he noted.
Groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) share these concerns. They view this FDA decision as yet another unfulfilled promise by the Trump administration to ban harmful food additives. Ken Cook, the EWG co-founder, criticized the lack of accountability in these agreements. “States are doing the tough work to protect families while the federal government settles for loose deals with major food companies,” he said.
The MAHA movement is advocating for stricter federal regulations on food ingredients, arguing that the current state-by-state approach leads to inconsistencies. They formed the Americans for Ingredient Transparency last year to press for nationwide standards. “Consumers want a healthier nation, but the patchwork of laws creates confusion and drives up grocery costs,” they said in a recent ad.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the FDA has been promoting naturally-based dyes derived from sources like beet juice and algae. Over the past year, they have also secured commitments from several major food brands, such as Campbell’s and Kraft Heinz, to eliminate artificial dyes from their products.
Recent surveys show that consumer demand for transparency in food labeling is on the rise—around 75% of shoppers say they actively look for clear ingredient lists. This trend highlights the need for straightforward regulations that can help consumers make informed choices.
For more information on food color additives, you can visit the FDA’s official site.
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