The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new natural food dyes Friday as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative.
The three natural dyes approved are: Galdieria Extract Blue, derived from the red algae Galdieria sulphuraria, approved for use in beverages, dairy products, frozen desserts, and candies; Butterfly Pea Flower Extract, a vivid blue-to-purple dye from dried flower petals, now authorized for a broader range of products like cereals, chips, and snack mixes, and; Calcium Phosphate, a white coloring agent, cleared for use in chicken products, candies, and doughnut sugar.
As the MAHA initiative has prioritized the removal of petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply, the new rule allows the use of colors extracted from algae, flowers, and natural minerals in a wide range of foods, including drinks, cereals, candies, and frozen desserts. (RELATED: RFK Jr. Meets With Food Company CEOs, Calls For Removal Of Food Dyes)
“Today we take a major step to Make America Healthy Again,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks. We’re removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives—to protect families and support healthier choices.”
The FDA said these additives passed rigorous safety reviews, in line with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Each dye was submitted through petitions by food industry players — Fermentalg (France), Sensient Colors LLC (Missouri), and Innophos Inc. (New Jersey).
“Thanks to the FDA, food companies will have even more options they can use as they switch from synthetic colors to natural colors,” Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, told CNN.
The approvals come just weeks after the FDA and HHS publicly pledged to phase out synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, citing concerns about potential links to behavioral issues in children and other long-term health risks.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary said the agency was “moving quickly” to expedite natural color petitions. “On April 22, I said the FDA would soon approve several new color additives and would accelerate our review of others. I’m pleased to report that promises made, have been promises kept,” he said.
The move also puts the U.S. more in line with Europe, where bans and restrictions on synthetic food dyes have been in place for years.
