Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr.'s desire to make "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) took a big step forward on yesterday, with the announcement that the federal government will eliminate all petroleum-based synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026. RFK Jr., joined by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, made the announcement in Washington DC. The podium shared with concerned mothers and their children who are concerned about what food companies are adding to our food.

“For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent. These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development. That era is coming to an end. We’re restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public’s trust. And we’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day,” RFK Jr. stated. 

Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B are the first two dyes targeted for a phase out. The revocation of the authorization of these two dies with be rejected per the FDA "within the coming months." The FDA said it will ask food manufacturers to remove Red No. 3 as an ingredient earlier than Jan 15, 2027. The Biden administration had set thed deadline for Red No. 3 removal from foods and beverages as a result of concerns that have been built up over the years regardings its possibility to cause cancer and interfere with hormonal functions. The FDA said it will also pursue the removal of the remaining six petroleum-based dyes before the end of 2026.  

As this was a major concern for concerned parents and consumers all over the United States since the growth in the MAHA movement began on the backdrop of the COVID-19 spamdemic, this action should be seen as another step in the right direction by RFK Jr. and the Trump Administration by many in the community.