In a March 2025 meeting U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressed executives from major food companies, including PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills, to  remove artificial dyes from the U.S. food supply. Kennedy emphasized that eliminating these synthetic colors is a top priority for the Trump administration, aiming to achieve this goal before the end of his tenure.

The meeting made it clear: Kennedy wants these synthetic additives gone before the end of the Trump administration.

Key Points from the Meeting

  1. Industry Urged to Act Kennedy called for “real and transformative” change and warned that if companies don’t act voluntarily, the administration is prepared to take regulatory steps. The message was direct: get ahead of this now or Washington will do it for you. (New York Times)

  2. National Regulatory Framework in the Works To avoid a confusing mess of state-by-state laws, the FDA is working on a federal framework that would standardize how food dyes are regulated nationwide. Kennedy emphasized that the patchwork approach already emerging in some states could create major problems for manufacturers.

  3. Red No. 3 Is Already Out Earlier this year, the FDA officially revoked approval for FD&C Red No. 3, a synthetic dye linked to cancer in lab animals. The decision followed decades of advocacy by consumer groups and signals a new era of more aggressive federal scrutiny of food additives.

  4. Industry Response Mixed While some companies say they’re open to reformulation, others raised concerns about cost, feasibility, and supply chain hurdles. The Consumer Brands Association noted that “the window for decision-making is closing quickly.”

The Bigger Picture

Kennedy’s campaign against artificial dyes is part of his broader “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. This effort focuses on cutting harmful additives and promoting clean-label reform across the food industry. It also reflects a growing cultural and political shift: Americans are demanding more transparency about what’s in their food, and federal officials are starting to respond. (Reuters)

A State-by-State Push

Several states have already started restricting dyes in school meals. California, Texas, and West Virginia are pushing or have passed legislation to limit food dye use in public schools, citing links to hyperactivity and long-term health concerns.

We expect more FDA announcements soon. Reformulation deadlines are being discussed, and Kennedy has made it clear that the goal is to remove artificial dyes entirely from the U.S. food supply—not just from kids’ cereals and snacks.