The federal government’s war against certain food ingredients, specifically artificial dyes, is ramping up. Speaking with food company executives earlier this week, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed concern over potentially harmful ingredients and his motivation to get them removed from products.
RFK Jr. reportedly told meeting attendees that removing artificial dyes from products is a top priority for the HHS. Additionally, it was “made clear” that the agency will take action if the industry does not respond appropriately, according to Bloomberg.
Executives from PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, WK Kellogg, and General Mills were involved in the food ingredient discussions with RFK Jr. The Consumer Brands Association, a trade group that represents the food industry, was also in attendance.
“It was a constructive conversation and we look forward to continued engagement with the secretary and the qualified experts within HHS to support public health, build consumer trust and promote consumer choice,” stated Consumer Brands Association CEO Melissa Hockstad, per CNBC.
Great discussion today with @ConsumerBrands CEOs of @KraftHeinzCo @GeneralMills @TysonFoods @KelloggsUS @smuckers and @PepsiCo on advancing food safety and radical transparency to protect the health of all Americans, especially our children. We will strengthen consumer trust by… pic.twitter.com/6gEv1ch1rb
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) March 10, 2025
Closing an Artificial Ingredient Loophole
Most food companies use artificial dyes in products, particularly in breakfast cereals and candies. The dyes purportedly make food and beverages more appealing to the eye. Some companies have already tried replacing synthetic dyes with more natural ingredients like carrot or beet juice.
Under the Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Final Rule, food companies can decide if an additive is safe for consumption. Using the rule as protection, food companies have approved a vast array of both natural and artificial ingredients, including some controversial dyes.
Secretary Kennedy has taken issue with this decades-old policy. To enhance transparency and push his Make America Healthy Again initiative, he instructed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate the “loophole” that allows companies to approve ingredients without FDA notification.
“For far too long, ingredient manufacturers and sponsors have exploited a loophole that has allowed new ingredients and chemicals, often with unknown safety data, to be introduced into the U.S. food supply without notification to the FDA or the public,” the HHS chief explained.
Just before RFK Jr. was appointed secretary of the HHS, the FDA announced a ban on Red No. 3, a dye potentially linked to cancer in mice. However, studies have not conclusively proven the ingredient can cause cancer in humans, which is why Red No. 3 was previously authorized for use in food.
