The Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act would prohibit the use of nine specific synthetic food dyes—including Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Blue No. 1, and several others—as well as titanium dioxide and any substantially similar additives in food products sold in the United States. The ban would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would classify any food containing these color additives as adulterated and unsafe under federal food and drug law, effectively removing these dyes from the market. This legislation would affect food manufacturers, who would need to reformulate products currently using these dyes, and consumers who would see changes to the coloring of many processed foods including candies, cereals, beverages, and other colored food products. The bill does not specify funding amounts or establish an implementation grant program, focusing instead on regulatory change through the FDA's existing authority. The 18-month timeline before the ban takes effect would give manufacturers time to identify alternative colorings and reformulate their products.
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