HHS Sec. RFK Jr. targets food dye ban following cancer research results
In this DML Report…
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference in Washington, D.C., announcing a federal push to ban synthetic food dyes, citing health risks including cancer and ADHD. Kennedy referenced animal studies linking dyes like Red 3 to cancer and human studies suggesting Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 exacerbate hyperactivity in children. He aims to reform the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) program, which allows companies to self-certify additives, and plans to issue an executive order by July 2025 to phase out nine dyes—Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and propylparaben—by 2028. The FDA banned Red 3 in January 2025 due to rat studies, with removal deadlines set for food by 2027 and drugs by 2028.
Kennedy’s initiative aligns with his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, targeting chronic diseases like obesity and colon cancer, which he attributes partly to ultra-processed foods. West Virginia, inspired by Kennedy, passed a bill in March 2025 banning the same nine additives from schools starting August 2025 and statewide by 2028. California and Virginia have also banned certain dyes in school meals, effective 2027. Kennedy claims food companies are reformulating products for Europe without dyes, citing natural alternatives like beet juice. However, the FDA notes no human cancer link exists for approved dyes, and experts like Susan Mayne, former FDA official, argue obesity, not dyes, drives cancer increases.
(see more below)
Food industry stocks, including General Mills and Kraft Heinz, dropped after Kennedy’s ultimatum to remove dyes by the end of his term or face unspecified action. The Consumer Brands Association reported Kennedy’s demand for “transformative change” in a memo. Critics, including Marion Nestle, question the feasibility of bans without conclusive human studies, noting research challenges. Kennedy’s plan faces resistance from the food lobby and requires congressional support for GRAS reform. Public support is strong, with 70% of Democrats and Republicans favoring restrictions on processed food additives, per polls.