The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a plan to remove artificial dyes from the United States’ food supply. The government is banning two synthetic colorings, Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, which can currently be used to color hot dogs and sausages. The FDA is then going to work with companies to eliminate the other dyes by the end of 2026.
“For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the FDA, said at a news conference in Washington. He cited a randomized trial that found that artificial dyes in the diet resulted in increased hyperactivity in 3-, 8-, and 9-year-olds.
Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, which represents food and drink manufacturers, said in a statement that additives have been studied and demonstrated to be safe.
