On March 11, 2025, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with leaders of major food companies, including CEOs from Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and Smucker’s, in a closed-door meeting in Washington. He urged them to remove artificial color dyes from their products by the end of his term, framing it as a top priority of the Trump administration to improve public health. Kennedy emphasized that he expects “real and transformative change” by eliminating what he considers the “worst ingredients” from the food supply, signaling he would take regulatory action if the industry does not act proactively.
The push aligns with Kennedy’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which focuses on reducing chronic illnesses by overhauling the U.S. diet. He has long criticized artificial dyes, pointing to their ban or restriction in countries like those in the European Union, where some dyes carry warning labels for potential effects on children’s attention. In the U.S., the FDA recently banned Red No. 3 in January 2025 due to evidence of cancer in lab animals, though other dyes like Red No. 40 remain approved despite limited recent study.
The Consumer Brands Association, represented by president Melissa Hockstad, responded positively but cautiously, pledging to work with Kennedy’s team to address “roadblocks” and ensure science-based solutions. Activists like Vani Hari of Food Babe praised the move, noting many companies already use dye-free formulas abroad. However, food companies argue these ingredients are safe under current FDA standards and essential for consumer preferences, highlighting a tension between regulatory pressure and industry practices as this initiative unfolds.
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