FDA Takes New Action to Phase Out Old Food Dyes
National News - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on two petroleum-based color additives that have quietly stuck around in food safety rules for decades. On July 22, the agency announced it is revoking approval for Orange B and proposing to do the same for Citrus Red No. 2. Both moves are part of a bigger push to clean up outdated food regulations.
Orange B has officially lost its authorized use in food. The FDA reviewed public comments on the proposal and found nothing that changed its conclusion that the additive has been abandoned by industry. In other words, companies simply aren't using it anymore, so the agency is making that official.
Citrus Red No. 2 is next in line. This dye has been approved since 1959 for coloring the skins of mature oranges, but the FDA now believes industry has moved away from it too. Before making it final, the agency is opening a 30-day public comment period.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. framed the announcement as part of a larger food safety effort. "The Trump Administration is taking decisive action to strengthen the safety of America's food supply," he said. "By working to eliminate outdated authorizations for petroleum-based color additives that are no longer used, we are modernizing our food safety regulations and helping to Make America Healthy Again."
Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas echoed that sentiment, pointing to the agency's broader regulatory reform goals. "The FDA is committed to maintaining a science-based, modern regulatory framework that reflects current manufacturing practices and marketplace realities," he said. "By working to remove outdated and unnecessary authorizations under President Trump's regulatory reform agenda, we are ensuring our regulations remain effective, transparent, and aligned with the agency's public health mission."
If you want to weigh in on the Citrus Red No. 2 proposal, you have until August 24, 2026. Comments can be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal under docket FDA-2026-N-6304, or mailed to the FDA's Dockets Management Staff in Rockville, Maryland.
These two actions are just part of a much larger effort. The FDA continues to track voluntary pledges from food manufacturers, retailers, and trade groups who are phasing out petroleum-based dyes on their own. That tracking is available on the agency's website for anyone curious about which companies are making the switch.
