On Tuesday, an important announcement was made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary for Health. Both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration will be eliminating all artificial food colorants derived from petroleum from the country’s food supply. This key step forms a part of his strategy to ‘Make America healthy again’.
Before President Joe Biden concluded his term in office in January, the FDA declared its intention to withdraw its approval for petroleum-based red dye No. 3. This dye is found in certain foods and medications, and was among nine synthetic food dyes certified by the FDA.
A joint statement was released on Tuesday afternoon by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA. The agencies are calling on food manufacturers to halt the use of red dye No. 3 prior to the original deadline set for 2027-28.
In their statement, the agencies laid out their strategy to rescind the authorization for two more artificial food colorings, meaning Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, in the months to follow. Their intention is to phase out the remaining six artificial food colorings from the US food supply by the end of next year; these include Red No. 40.
So, what exactly is Red dye No. 40? Also known as Allura Red, it ranks among the most extensively used artificial food dyes within the United States and Canada, ubiquitously present across a wide spectrum of items.
The FDA gave the green light for the use of red dye No. 40 in foodstuffs starting from 1971. At present, it is utilized for aesthetic enhancement in a broad array of products like sodas, baked goods, cereals, and many other food items.
According to both the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority, along with other regulatory bodies, the consumption of red dye No. 40 is considered safe as long as it remains below the set acceptable daily intake (ADI).
Major organizations recommend an acceptable daily intake of this dye at 7 mg/kg/day. In simpler terms, a person weighing 70 kg (around 154 lbs.) could consume up to 490 mg of red dye No. 40 per day without anticipating any side effects, adhering to these established guidelines.
What is the situation with other food colorings? Common dyes such as yellow dyes Nos. 5 and 6, blue dyes Nos. 1 and 2, along with green dye No. 3, are all categorized as synthetic additives. They are widely used, probably due to their cost-effectiveness.
Certain companies have moved completely away from artificial dyes, opting for natural food colors instead. These include curcumin, paprika, carotenes, and anthocyanins, which are naturally derived. However, compared to synthetic dyes, natural food colors do present certain challenges.
Where can you typically find these artificial dyes? They are prevalent across a wide range of the items we consume daily including baked goods, dairy products, and certain fruit-based products. However, safety is generally ensured within regulatory limits, though some individuals may exhibit allergic reactions or behavioural issues.
Synthetic food colors like Blue No. 1 or Yellow No. 5, are generally considered safe within the established regulatory limits. However, in certain susceptible individuals, these synthetic food colors may lead to allergic reactions or even behavioural issues.
The gradual elimination of artificial food colorants from the national food supply was seemingly inescapable. There truly isn’t any benefit to synthetic dyes, notwithstanding profit, and their use is not justified.
The consumption of these constituents provides no nutritional benefit and, other than enhancing profit margins, they don’t serve any meaningful purpose. Therefore, their exclusion from our food supply is a much-anticipated move.
The post Eradicating Artificial Food Colorants: A Bold Move by the US Health Secretary appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
