The FDA is phasing out synthetic food dyes—here's what it means for your family's health

In a sweeping move that puts children's well-being front and center, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced a prominent plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation's food supply. For parents who've long worried about mysterious color-coded ingredients in their child's favorite snacks, this marks a long-overdue victory for transparency and health.
For decades, American families have unknowingly been consuming artificial dyes—FD&C Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1, to name a few—added to everything from cereals and candies to juices and baked goods. These synthetic additives, made from petrochemicals, offer no nutritional benefit and have been linked to a range of health concerns, especially in children. Think hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and even potential long-term impacts on development.
'Some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,' said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 'That era is coming to an end.'
Related: Baked goods FDA recall: what you need to know about the 2 million products impacted
The FDA's new measures are part of the Biden administration's broader 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative, and here's what you need to know:
Two dyes—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—will have their authorization revoked in the coming months.
Six more widely used synthetic dyes (like Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5) will be eliminated by the end of next year.
Natural alternatives such as butterfly pea flower extract and gardenia blue are being fast-tracked for approval.
The deadline for phasing out Red No. 3 (found in candies and baked goods) has been moved up.
The FDA is working with the NIH to deeply study the connection between additives and children's health.
While European countries and Canada have already restricted or replaced synthetic dyes in many foods, the U.S. has lagged behind. That means American children have been exposed to additives banned elsewhere for safety reasons. The shift now underway acknowledges mounting research—and parental concern—about the role these dyes may play in the rise of childhood issues like obesity, depression, and ADHD.
As FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary stated, 'Given the growing concerns of doctors and parents… we should not be taking risks.'
This policy shift is a game-changer, but food industry reform won't happen overnight. In the meantime, there are steps you can take:
Read labels: Look out for ingredients labeled as 'FD&C' followed by a color and number.
Choose natural options: Many brands now use fruit or vegetable-based colorings.
Make your voice heard: Continue advocating for clean ingredients by supporting brands and stores committed to transparency.
Model mindful eating: This is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about what's in their food and why it matters.
For many families, this announcement isn't just about dyes—it's about reclaiming trust in the food system. It's about knowing that what we feed our children supports not only their bodies, but also their focus, energy, and emotional health.
This change signals that when parents speak up, when science is prioritized, and when the health of our littlest citizens is placed at the forefront, meaningful change is possible.
Let's keep demanding better. Because our kids deserve nothing less.
Related: FDA sets new limits on lead in baby food—what parents need to know

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Business Upturn

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• Business Upturn

Novo Nordisk's subcutaneous and oral amycretin data published in The Lancet and presented at ADA 2025

By GlobeNewswire Published on June 21, 2025, 04:34 IST Subcutaneous amycretin phase 1b/2a data on the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential in people with overweight or obesity was published in The Lancet and presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. 1,2 and presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. Oral amycretin phase 1 data on the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential in people with overweight or obesity was also published in The Lancet. 3 Findings from the clinical trials indicate amycretin appeared tolerable with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonists.1,2,3 Bagsværd, Denmark, 20 June 2025 – Novo Nordisk announces subcutaneous amycretin data being presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85 th Scientific Sessions in Chicago, US.1 Full results of two clinical trials evaluating the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential of subcutaneous and oral amycretin in people with overweight or obesity were published today in The Lancet medical journal.1,3 Amycretin is the first treatment that combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonism biology in a single molecule. The published and presented results from the once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin phase 1b/2a clinical trial showed that participants who received the treatment demonstrated significantly greater weight loss across the full range of doses investigated compared to placebo. Data being presented at ADA were collected from two parts of the trial; dose escalation (amycretin 60 mg), and dose escalation and maintenance (amycretin 20 mg, 5 mg and 1.25 mg).1,2 No plateauing in weight reduction was observed at the end of treatment (ranging from 20 to 36 weeks) with all tested doses, suggesting that a longer treatment duration may potentially contribute to additional weight loss.1,2 Estimated mean change in body weight from baseline with once-weekly subcutaneous (SC) amycretin: 1,2 * Dose Treatment % Weight change % Weight change duration (SC amycretin) (placebo) 60 mg 36 weeks -24.3% -1.1%20 mg** 36 weeks -22.0% 1.9%5 mg** 28 weeks -16.2% 2.3% 1.25 mg** 20 weeks -9.7% 2.0% * If all people adhered to treatment i.e. if all people followed the planned dosing schedule for the full trial period without any treatment discontinuations. ** Administered during a 12-week maintenance period. Once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin treatment escalated up to 60 mg appeared tolerable with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonists.1,2 The number of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) increased in a dose-dependent manner, were mostly gastrointestinal, and were comparable to the rate and profile of TEAEs reported in early-phase studies of GLP-1 receptor, GLP-1 receptor/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor, and amylin receptor agonists.1,2 The majority of TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and resolved by the end of the study period.1,2 Of the participants who discontinued the trial, the majority were due to non-TEAE reasons.1,2 'As pioneers in obesity innovation, we are exploring multiple biological pathways to develop potentially transformative medicines that support the individual needs and preferences of people with obesity on their weight loss journey towards overall improved health,' said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk . 'Amycretin is the first investigational treatment that combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonism biology in one molecule, working on distinct pathways and offering complementary effects on appetite control. The findings published and presented today are encouraging. We are excited to advance the clinical development of subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 to assess its potential as a therapeutic option for weight management.' The published once-daily oral amycretin phase 1 clinical trial data showed that participants receiving amycretin achieved greater weight loss compared to placebo.3 After 12 weeks of treatment with amycretin up to 50 mg and up to 2 times 50 mg, participants achieved a mean change in body weight of -10.4% and -13.1% respectively, compared to -1.2% with placebo.3 There were no apparent signs of weight loss plateauing within the 12 weeks of treatment in either of these amycretin-treated groups.3 Once-daily oral amycretin appeared to have an acceptable safety profile and was tolerable in all tested doses, with TEAEs in line with what was expected from targeting GLP-1 and amylin receptors.3 All reported TEAEs occurred in a dose-proportional manner, were mild to moderate in severity, and mostly gastrointestinal. No new safety signals appeared during the study.3 Based on the findings from the oral and subcutaneous amycretin trials, Novo Nordisk recently announced it will advance amycretin into phase 3 trials to further investigate the treatment as a potential new therapeutic option for weight management.4 About amycretin Amycretin is a unimolecular long-acting GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist under development by Novo Nordisk, to provide an efficacious and convenient treatment for adults with overweight or obesity and for adults with type 2 diabetes. Amycretin is developed for subcutaneous and oral administration. Oral amycretin Phase 1 trial – The trial evaluated the single-ascending dose and multiple ascending doses for oral amycretin, up to 2 times 50 mg, in 144 people with overweight or obesity, with a total treatment duration of up to 12 weeks. Subcutaneous amycretin Phase 1b/2a trial – The trial investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and proof-of-concept of once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin in 125 people with overweight or obesity. The trial was a combined single ascending dose, multiple ascending dose and dose-response trial investigating three different maintenance doses with a total treatment duration of up to 36 weeks. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information _______________________ References The Lancet: Dahl K, Toubro, S, Dey S, et al. Amycretin, a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist administered subcutaneously: Results of a randomised, controlled, phase 1b/2a study. Dahl, K, et al. (2025). Amycretin, a Novel, Unimolecular GLP-1 and Amylin Receptor Agonist: Results of a Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial. Poster 2002-LB. American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, US, June 20 – 23, 2025. The Lancet: Gasiorek A, Heydorn A, Gabery S, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the first-in-class GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin: a first-in-human, phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Novo Nordisk Company Announcement. Novo Nordisk to advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin for weight management into phase 3 clinical development. Available at: Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.

2 hours ago

Diabetes drug may cut migraine days in half with little weight loss: Study

Drugs in the same family as Ozempic and Wegovy are known for treating diabetes and helping with weight loss, but a small, early-stage study suggested they might also ease migraines -- even when there's no weight loss. The benefit appears to come from lowering pressure in the brain, Dr. Simone Braca, a neurologist at the University of Naples Federico II and lead author of the study, explained to ABC News. 'This study is very interesting in that the GLP 1s are hypothesized to lower brain pressure, which can then lower your chance of getting a headache or a migraine,' Braca said. The small, 12-week study tracked 26 adults with obesity who had chronic or frequent migraines. Published in Headache -- the official journal of the American Headache Society -- and presented at this week's European Academy of Neurology meeting in Finland, it tested liraglutide, a type of GLP-1 drug commonly used for diabetes and weight loss. After taking a daily 1.8 mg dose of liraglutide for three months -- the amount typically used to treat diabetes -- their average number of headache days per month dropped from 20 to about nine. Participants also reported less disability from migraines, with scores on a standard headache impact scale cut by more than half. Although some participants lost a small amount of weight, Braca said the few lost pounds were not meaningful enough to explain the improvement in migraines. Instead, Braca pointed to pressure from cerebrospinal fluid -- the liquid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spine. He said he believes that even slight buildups of this fluid can press on nearby veins and nerves in the brain, potentially triggering migraines. 'An increased pressure of the spinal fluid in the brain may be one of the mechanisms underlying migraine,' Braca said. 'And if we target this mechanism, this preliminary evidence suggests that it may be helpful for migraine.' Nearly half of patients reported at least a 50% reduction in headache days, according to the Headache paper. About 40% experienced mild side effects like nausea or constipation. None stopped taking the medication. With such promising results, Braca and his research team, led by Dr. Roberto De Simone, are already planning larger trials. Future studies will measure brain pressure more directly and explore whether other GLP 1 drugs might also offer the same relief but with fewer side effects. 'There are still a substantial portion of migraine patients that face an unmet need and that live with its burden,' he said. 'New drugs that could target other pathways, I think that could be reassuring to those patients and give them hope.' The study adds to growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs may have benefits beyond diabetes and weight loss. Researchers are already studying these medications for a range of other conditions, including reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, easing symptoms of addiction and treating Alzheimer's disease.

Business Insider

3 hours ago

• Business Insider

Incyte announces FDA extends review period for Opzelura sNDA

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