The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced powerful new regulations for artificial food dyes. They are particularly honing in on Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B. These dyes, which are associated with a range of health effects, will be banned for use in food products. The FDA is moving to expedite the removal of Citrus Red No. 3, which has long been flagged as a potential carcinogen.
Citrus Red No. 2’s only current use is for dyeing orange skins. At the same time, Orange B used to dye hot dogs and sausages bright orange, but the FDA proposed a ban in 1978, immediately killing its use. The decision by the regulatory agency responds to continuous food safety advocates and public health concerns.
The FDA plans to shorten the timeline for food manufacturers to eliminate Citrus Red No. 3 from their products, which is scheduled for removal by 2028. This dye was already banned from cosmetics as of 1990 after lab studies suggested it produced cancerous tumors in laboratory rats.
New Regulations on Artificial Dyes
In response to this finding, the FDA has banned Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B from the market immediately. Further, they are encouraging a voluntary phase-out of six other food dyes. These include FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 6, FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Green No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 40. These dyes aren’t technically banned, but the FDA urges their use among manufacturers to be discontinued in favor of safer alternatives.
The Consumer Brands Association (CBA), which represents U.S. packaged food manufacturers, issued statements downplaying the destruction of these additives. CBA president and CEO Melissa Hockstad spoke of the advanced and careful examination of ingredients that exists within America’s food supply. These ingredients have gone through a battery of objective scientific evaluations, and through the established safety assessment processes, have been proven safe. This attitude is representative of a wider mentality found among many industry leaders who feel existing food dye regulations have worked well enough.
Nonetheless, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has expressed concern over the continued use of certain food dyes and their potential health implications. Peter G. Lurie, president of CSPI, spelled it out clearly by stating, “The only meaningful regulatory action is to ban two rarely used dyes. Citrus Red 2 and Orange B will be banned in the coming months. This disregard of established government regulatory positions reveals a deepening divide between government agencies and food manufacturers over the safety of most artificial additives.
Industry Response and Future Outlook
As the FDA takes its next steps, food manufacturers are entering a make-or-break moment for the future of their manufacturing processes. To date, companies have prioritized reformulating existing products. They’re going to lead on including natural dyes more quickly than they reformulate even old recipes that still include artificial colors.
Despite the FDA’s push for change, some industry experts caution that food manufacturers may opt to ignore the voluntary phase-out of other artificial dyes. Whether or not TCOC is enacted through mandatory or voluntary regulations will result in a significant disparity regarding how compliant companies are with these recommendations.
Consumers are increasingly calling for greater transparency in the U.S. food system and production of healthier products. This move away from artificial dyes would promise a more health-minded marketplace. Those that act first and smartest will put themselves in a position to outcompete their rivals. They can position their products to meet consumer demand for more natural ingredients.
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