WASHINGTON (WDNews) — Artificial food colors are being removed from a range of foods served in K-12 schools as manufacturers and industry groups move away from petroleum-based dyes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA said companies and industry groups have committed to removing certified petroleum-based colors from certain foods offered in schools beginning with the 2026-27 school year. The agency is tracking those voluntary commitments as part of a broader effort to phase the dyes out of the U.S. food supply.
Among the companies listed by the FDA, General Mills committed to removing certified colors from all U.S. cereals and K-12 school foods by summer 2026. Nestlé USA committed to eliminating FD&C colors from its U.S. food and beverage products by mid-2026. Several other manufacturers and industry groups have made similar commitments affecting school meals.
The effort follows an initiative announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and FDA in April 2025 to transition away from petroleum-based food dyes.
According to the FDA, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA officials have said the synthetic dyes offer no nutritional benefit and may pose health risks, particularly for children. The FDA cited concerns involving childhood obesity, diabetes, depression and ADHD.
The agency is also working with manufacturers, retailers and trade groups toward eliminating six commonly used certified colors by the end of 2027: FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2.
The FDA previously revoked authorization for Red No. 3 and has encouraged manufacturers to remove it ahead of the Jan. 15, 2027, deadline. The agency has also revoked authorization for Orange B and proposed revoking Citrus Red No. 2.
At the same time, the FDA has approved additional color alternatives derived from other sources, including beetroot red, gardenia blue and butterfly pea flower extract. The agency has also changed its labeling approach to give companies more flexibility to use “no artificial colors” claims when products do not contain petroleum-based colors.
“This is real progress,” Kennedy said when the labeling change was announced. “We are making it easier for companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors and adopt safer, naturally derived alternatives. This momentum advances our broader effort to help Americans eat real food and Make America Healthy Again.”
The FDA maintains an online tracker showing companies, products and industry groups that have pledged to remove petroleum-based food dyes and the status of those changes.
