Artificial food dyes still being used, despite companies' pledge to kick the habit
States move ahead with transparency and disclosure laws
Little progress despite industry promises
A year after federal officials urged food companies to voluntarily phase out artificial dyes, progress has been minimal—prompting new calls for government action and state-level intervention.
According to a new report highlighted by Food Safety News, many large food manufacturers have yet to follow through on public commitments to eliminate synthetic food colorings from their products.
Consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports says companies including Coca-Cola, Mondelez, and Unilever have made promises but have not delivered meaningful changes.
That lack of movement comes despite a push from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—to encourage companies to remove petroleum-based dyes from the food supply.
States step in as federal action stalls
With voluntary efforts falling short, advocates are increasingly turning to lawmakers.
Consumer Reports has backed new legislation in states like New York, where lawmakers recently approved a bill requiring companies to disclose chemicals—including dyes—used in food products.
The shift reflects a broader trend: states are moving faster than federal regulators to address concerns about synthetic dyes, particularly in products marketed to children.
What the research says
Concerns about artificial dyes have persisted for years. Some studies have linked certain synthetic colorings—such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1—to behavioral issues in children, including hyperactivity, though the science remains debated.
At the same time, regulators have taken incremental steps. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has encouraged companies to phase out several petroleum-based dyes and has already banned at least one additive (Red No. 3), with broader phaseouts expected over the next few years.
Still, those efforts rely heavily on voluntary compliance—an approach critics say is failing.
“Voluntary action isn’t enough”
Consumer Reports is now urging federal regulators to go further, calling for mandatory restrictions or outright bans on synthetic dyes.
“We shouldn’t rely on voluntary action when it comes to protecting public health,” a Consumer Reports policy official said, according to the report, quoted on LinkedIn.
The group also points to survey data showing strong public support for removing artificial dyes from food products altogether.
Industry response: slow, uneven, and complicated
Some companies have announced plans to eliminate artificial dyes—but often on long timelines stretching into 2027 or beyond.
Industry resistance stems from several challenges:
Reformulating products can be costly
Natural color alternatives may be less stable or vibrant
Companies worry about consumer backlash if products look different
Those hurdles have led to a patchwork response, with some brands moving quickly and others delaying or avoiding commitments altogether.
Affordability Watch: will cleaner ingredients cost more?
For consumers, the shift away from artificial dyes could carry mixed financial implications.
On one hand, natural ingredients may raise production costs, potentially leading to higher grocery prices—especially for heavily processed foods.
On the other, advocates argue that clearer labeling and fewer additives could improve long-term health outcomes, reducing hidden costs tied to diet-related conditions.
What this means for consumers
For now, shoppers remain largely on their own when it comes to avoiding artificial dyes.
Key takeaways:
“No artificial colors” labels may not mean what consumers expect, due to evolving definitions
Ingredient lists remain the most reliable way to identify synthetic dyes
State-level rules may soon expand transparency—but unevenly across the country
Unless federal regulators step in with stronger rules, the pace of change will likely continue to depend on a mix of consumer pressure, advocacy campaigns, and state legislation.
The bottom line
The push to remove artificial food dyes is gaining momentum—but not from industry itself.
With major companies slow to act on voluntary pledges, pressure is shifting to regulators and lawmakers, setting up a likely next phase: whether Washington moves from encouragement to enforcement.