Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act removes food-use safety status for a defined set of color additives beginning January 1, 2027. Regardless of existing listing or certification under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the bill deems covered color additives unsafe for use in or on food and deems food bearing or containing them adulterated. Covered additives include Red No. 40, Red No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Citrus Red 2, Titanium Dioxide, and any substantially similar additive. The effect is a national food safety rule that pushes food manufacturers away from those dyes and gives FDA an adulteration basis for enforcement after the effective date.
Who Benefits and How
Consumers benefit from a federal rule removing listed synthetic dyes from foods after January 1, 2027. Parents concerned about food dyes benefit if children's foods must be reformulated away from covered color additives. Natural color ingredient suppliers benefit from increased demand for alternatives to covered synthetic dyes. Public health advocates benefit from a clear adulteration rule for foods containing the listed additives.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Food manufacturers using covered dyes must reformulate products or risk adulteration after January 1, 2027. FDA food safety staff must enforce adulteration rules for foods bearing or containing covered color additives. Food retailers may need to remove noncompliant products from shelves after the effective date. Color additive suppliers selling covered dyes face reduced demand for food-use applications.
Key Provisions
- Provides that covered color additives are unsafe for use in or on food beginning January 1, 2027.
- Provides that foods containing covered color additives are adulterated under federal food law.
- Adds Red No. 40, Red No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Citrus Red 2, and Titanium Dioxide.
- Adds additives substantially similar to the listed additives.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Deems specified synthetic food color additives unsafe and foods containing them adulterated beginning January 1, 2027, including substantially similar additives.
Key Policy Areas
Food Safety, Consumer Protection, Public Health
Primary Purpose
Deems specified synthetic food color additives unsafe and foods containing them adulterated beginning January 1, 2027, including substantially similar additives.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Consumers
- Parents concerned about food dyes
- Natural color ingredient suppliers
- Public health advocates
Identified Costs
- Food manufacturers using covered dyes
- FDA food safety staff
- Food retailers
- Color additive suppliers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMs. Meng introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Food manufacturers using covered dyes, Natural color ingredient suppliers
Positive-direction: Natural color ingredient suppliers
Negative-direction: Food manufacturers using covered dyes
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology