The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to phase out petroleum-based colors in food products, with two synthetic dyes, Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, set to be revoked in the coming months.
Industry experts and consumer advocates are reacting to the move, with some interpreting it as a national ban on food dyes. However, the FDA emphasizes that this is not the case, and companies will still be able to use synthetic dyes in their products.
Statewide Bans
- 26 states have pending legislation banning one or more food colors.
- Some bills apply solely to foods served in schools, while others call for statewide bans of these ingredients in all foods.
The movement to eliminate synthetic dyes is gaining momentum, with concerns over their potential health impacts and environmental sustainability.
Health Concerns
Health experts are warning that natural alternatives to synthetic dyes may not be entirely safe.
“Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe,” said Susan Mayne, a Yale University expert and former FDA director. “FDA assisted with a mass poisoning event in Africa that was determined to be caused by tropane alkaloids from jimsonweed contamination of food, that caused serious illnesses and deaths. Marine toxins are another great example — FDA’s Division of Seafood Safety has globally recognized expertise here — an example would be tetrodotoxin from puffer fish.”
Mayne also noted that increased dosages of some natural colors can create health issues, citing beta-carotene as an example.
Supply Chain Issues
Color companies are facing challenges in sourcing natural ingredients, which can be impacted by regional growing seasons, regulatory limitations, and fluctuations in agricultural yield.
- It can take three or more years for a product to be ready for a customer to use.
- Availability can be impacted by weather, climate change, geopolitical issues, and fluctuations in agricultural yield.
Supply chain issues can also lead to shortages of natural colors, making it difficult for manufacturers to find alternative products.
Challenges in Replacing Synthetic Dyes
Industry experts are highlighting the challenges in replacing synthetic dyes with natural alternatives.
- Natural colors are often weaker, requiring more color to achieve the same effect.
- The cost of natural colors is higher than synthetic dyes.
- Supply chain issues can lead to shortages of natural colors.
Some experts are also warning about the potential for natural colors to be less stable and have a shorter shelf life than synthetic dyes.
Industry Response
Industry experts are responding to the FDA’s move, with some companies expressing concerns about the challenges in replacing synthetic dyes with natural alternatives.
“Synthetic dyes are highly concentrated, cost-effective and produced at scale using relatively consistent processes,” said Timothy Truby, vice president at Natural Colors and Ingredients. “On the other hand, natural colors are derived from agricultural sources, making them inherently more variable and resource-intensive to produce. There’s no way around it—natural colors are generally more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.”
Truby also noted that the cost of natural colors can add up, and that manufacturers may need to reformulate their products to accommodate the new colors.
Consumer Demand
Consumer demand for natural and recognizable ingredients is driving the move to eliminate synthetic dyes.
“Natural” colors are not one-for-one substitutions with synthetic dyes. Generally, they are weaker, requiring more color to achieve the same effect.
news is a contributor at MrSynthetic. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
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