Ice cream makers representing about 90 percent of US suppliers of the frozen treat have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products within the next three years, federal health officials said on Monday.
The move is the latest voluntary effort by food manufacturers to heed calls from the Trump administration to remove synthetic dyes over concerns about potential health effects.
In recent weeks, companies including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would pull artificial colors from their foods, too.
‘This is a renaissance moment for health in America,’ US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference.
About 40 makers of ice cream and frozen dairy desserts said they would remove seven petroleum-based dyes from their products by 2028, according to Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association.
The colors are Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.
The trade group wouldn’t identify the firms, although Turkey Hill Dairy chief executive Andy Jacobs joined the gathering.
The national focus on artificial food dyes is ‘a good step to take,’ but officials should not ignore larger known contributors to chronic disease, including the added sugars and saturated fat commonly found in ice cream, said Deanna Hoelscher, a University of Texas nutrition expert.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins hold up ice cream cones during a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on Monday in Washington, DC
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the dyes and pressured manufacturers to remove them from foods. In their place, manufacturers should use dyes made from fruit juices, plant extracts and other sources, federal officials said
‘Just taking out or changing the food dye source is not necessarily going to make it a healthy option,’ she said. ‘It still is a food that should be consumed in moderation.’
However, Makary also hinted that new federal dietary guidelines, expected later this year, would challenge established links between saturated fat and heart disease, ending what he called ‘a 70-year demonization of natural saturated fat.’
The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream a year, the IDFA said. The frozen treat contributes an estimated $12 billion to the economy and supports more than 27,000 dairy industry jobs.
Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies showing that they may cause some neurobehavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and attention problems, in some children.
The Food and Drug Administration has maintained that approved dyes are safe and that ‘most children have no adverse effects’ when consuming foods made with them.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the dyes and pressured manufacturers to remove them from foods.
In their place, manufacturers should use dyes made from fruit juices, plant extracts and other sources, federal officials said.
The FDA has approved new natural color additives in recent months, including a new blue color made from the fruit of the gardenia announced Monday.
Gardenia (genipin) blue is approved for use in sports drinks, candies and certain other products, the agency said.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner (FDA) Martin Makary is seen left alongside RFK Jr. at the USDA headquarters building in Washington, DC
The trade group wouldn’t identify the firms, although Turkey Hill Dairy chief executive Andy Jacobs joined the gathering. Pictured, the giant Turkey Hill Cow looms over festival goers sampling ice cream at Taste of Omaha in Nebraska
Makary also sent a letter to food manufacturers on Monday that ‘encourages’ them to speed up removal of the dye known as Red 3, which was banned in January.
Food makers have until 2027 to remove the dye, which was found to cause cancer in laboratory rats, but not humans.
‘I’m particularly happy to be here today because this is relevant to my favorite food, which is ice cream,’ Kennedy said at a press event, lauding the dairy industry for its actions.
‘This is a great day for dairy and it’s a great day for Make America Healthy Again,’ added the IDFA’s President and CEO Michael Dykes, referencing Kennedy’s MAHA slogan that is a play on President Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ or MAGA.
Andy Jacobs, CEO of Turkey Hill, said many commercial ice cream manufacturers had already phased out artificial colors or were in the process of doing so.
‘By taking this step now, ice cream manufacturers are ensuring that ice cream remains a special part of our lives as consumer preferences change and the nation’s regulatory priorities evolve,’ he said.
Some food companies have said they will stop using artificial dyes, but relying on voluntary action rather than regulatory requirements won’t guarantee compliance, said Thomas Galligan, a scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group.
‘Talk is cheap,’ Galligan said. ‘It’s easy for companies to make promises to look like they’re being compliant and generate goodwill among consumers and the Trump administration, but it remains to be seen if they will actually follow through.’
There are also concerns that the bright colors could encourage people to eat more sweet treats, leading to weight gain which is linked to a whole host of chronic diseases.
It follows moves from the states, with both California and West Virginia passing laws to ban some artificial food colorings. There are at least 30 others, mostly Democrat, considering similar legislation.
Major food manufacturers including Nestle, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and PepsiCo have already signed on to ditch artificial dyes.
Kennedy on Monday said between ’35 and 40 percent’ of the food industry has now pledged to make the shift, but it was notable the ice cream makers’ pledge pushes past the health secretary’s original target of end-2026, giving companies an extra year to adjust their supply chains.
But key holdouts remain – for example Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, and its subsidiary Kellogg’s, whose Froot Loops still use Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and Yellow 6 in the US, even though the same cereal is artificial dye-free in places like Canada.
The FDA recently ordered that Red 3 must be removed from foods sold in the US by 2027 and medications by 2028, over concerns it can cause cancer.
This dye is responsible for the bright red colors found in candies and lollipops, although there are now natural alternatives.
Red 40, also known as Allura red, is in several popular candies, sodas and chips – including Doritos, Skittles, and Pepsi – as well as baked goods and cake mix
RFK Junior has been pushing to outlaw artificial food dyes that have been linked to health conditions (Pictured above in a September 2024 video warning over processed food)
Many states are also seeking a ban on Red 40, or Allura red – found in several popular snacks including Doritos, Skittle and Pepsi.
Yellow 5 is also on the chopping block, which has been linked to potentially triggering hyperactivity in children and damage to DNA. It is also used in Doritos, juices and cookies.
Similarly, Yellow 6 – found in sugary breakfast cereals like Lucky Charms – and Blue 1 – found in sweets like gummy bears – have both also been linked to hyperactivity.
Studies in animals have also suggested that Blue 2 – found in sports drinks – and Green 3 – often found in salad dressings – raised the risk of tumors developing, particularly in the bladder and testes.
