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FDA approves 3 natural colors to accelerate food industry transition from artificial dyes

May 13, 2025 from Food Dive:

• "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved three new color additives made from flowers, algae and other natural sources, expanding options for the food industry to move away from artificial dyes amid increased regulatory pressure.
• "The FDA granted petitions for two blue colors, one made from algae-based galdieria extract and another produced from butterfly pea flower. It also approved calcium phosphate, a white color used in sugar for coated candies.
• "The FDA and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asked the food industry to voluntarily phase out petroleum-based artificial dyes before the end of 2026.
• "Product reformulation is a difficult and lengthy process, and requires time for companies to transition their supply chains and ensure quality control measures, according to the International Association of Color Manufacturers. More pressing is the fact that there would be a severe shortage of agricultural products needed to transition the entire food industry to natural colors before the end of 2026.
• "Still, a number of large food manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Tyson, have committed to hasten the transition to natural dyes and colors in the wake of FDA pressure. Ingredient and flavorings company McCormick is also seeing “a tick-up in reformulation activity” among restaurants and food manufacturers as efforts to ban synthetic dyes in food gain momentum.
• "The FDA approval allows galdieria extract blue to be used in nonalcoholic beverages, cereal and a variety of desserts and candies. Butterfly pea flower extract, which is already approved for use in yogurt and a number of beverages, can now be used in ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, and snacks such as hard pretzels and potato chips."