Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to implement a nationwide ban on eight synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026, citing growing health concerns and scientific evidence connecting the additives to behavioral and developmental issues in children.
The targeted substances include Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, and Orange B—all petroleum-based colorants widely used in snack foods, candies, cereals, and beverages across the United States.
Studies have shown that these dyes may contribute to hyperactivity in children and, in some cases, have exhibited carcinogenic effects in laboratory animals. The Food and Drug Administration will oversee the phase-out process as part of a broader effort to modernize food safety regulations and better align U.S. standards with those of other countries that have already limited or banned several of these additives.
Some major food companies have already begun reformulating products in anticipation of stricter regulations. The move follows a growing number of state-level initiatives aimed at improving food quality and consumer safety, with several states passing legislation to restrict or label artificial additives.
The federal ban is expected to accelerate that trend, with health officials emphasizing the importance of reducing long-term exposure to potentially harmful ingredients in everyday consumer products.