FDA deletes approvals for two synthetic food dyes amid industry shift to natural colorants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized the removal of the Orange B food‑dye authorization and proposed revoking the Citrus Red No. 2 authorization, noting that both additives have been abandoned by manufacturers. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamante described the actions as regulatory housekeeping to eliminate outdated approvals; no products on U.S. shelves will be affected.

A concurrent market trend shows consumers favoring natural colorants. A report by the National Confectioners Association and RTI International found sales of foods and beverages labeled with natural colors rose 24.4% from 2024 to 2025, while products with artificial colors grew only 0.1%. Major retailers such as Target and Walmart are removing synthetic dyes from private‑label lines, and companies including Kraft Heinz and General Mills plan to eliminate artificial dyes by 2027. The transition faces challenges of higher costs, supply constraints and formulation difficulties.

The FDA’s deletions reflect the broader industry move away from synthetic dyes toward natural alternatives, driven by consumer demand for clean labels and ingredient transparency.