‘Toxic soup’: Food dyes set for US phase out under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. health push still on Aussie shelves

All six artificial food colours set to be phased out under a Trump administration crackdown sparked by concern about their potential impact on health are freely available in foods sold in Australia.

Announced this week, the move away from artificial to natural colouring alternatives is expected to affect a wide range of US products that includes the famously bright, rainbow coloured Skittles.

“For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a press conference discussing the move.

He said the FDA would work with industry to eliminate food dyes Green No. 3 (known in Australia as Fast Green FCF), Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC) , Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow FCF), Blue No. 1 Brilliant Blue FCF), and Blue No. 2 (Indigotine) by the end of next year.

The FDA will also revoke authorisation within months for synthetic colourings Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — which are already banned in Australia — and speed up the planned removal of Red Dye 3, which is permitted only in limited foods in Australia, including preserved cherries and icing/frosting, sooner than already planned.

It’s expected the US changes will require a potentially costly overhaul of recipes and their new look may affect their attractiveness to consumers.

A spokesperson for FSANZ said it was aware of the FDA announcement, but said that the six new dyes targeted by the FDA were not harmful in the quantities allowed in the Australian food supply.

“The six colours in the FDA statement are all permitted under Schedule 16 of the Code under defined conditions of use in specific foods,” the spokesperson said.

“FSANZ surveys show that dietary exposure to food colours remains far below the acceptable daily intake, with levels under 5 per cent even including for children. These findings confirm there is no public health concern related to the use of approved food colours.”

In Australia, food dyes are required to undergo a safety assessment by FSANZ before being added to food and drinks sold. A safety limit is set to ensure no-one will be able to eat the additive to an unsafe level.

Backlash against artificial colours has been brewing in the US for more than a decade but the industry argues that claims the dyes were dangerous lack evidence.

Last month, newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food executives that removing artificial dyes from the food system was an urgent priority of the Trump administration.

He has previously used Kellogg’s Froot Loops as his primary example when railing against artificial colourants.

Under his so-called Make America Healthy Again platform he has argued a corrupt alliance of drug and food companies and the federal health agencies that regulate them are making Americans less healthy.

He has pledged to end the chronic disease epidemic in children and adults, and has been vocal about making nutritious food, rather than drugs, central to that goal.

Rather than an outright ban, Mr Makary said the FDA would work with industry to do it voluntarily.

Mr Makary said the agency plans to authorise four additional colour additives using natural ingredients in the coming weeks, while also expediting the review and approval of other natural ingredient colours.

He cited a Lancet study that concluded that artificial colours in the diet “result in increased hyperactivity”.

“The F in FDA stands for food,” he said. “Now, there’s no one ingredient that accounts for the child chronic disease epidemic. And let’s be honest, taking petroleum-based food dyes out of the food supply is not a silver bullet that will instantly make America’s children healthy, but it is one important step.”

— with CNBC