Brightly colored foods have become so prevalent in American pantries that we rarely stop to consider how unnatural they appear.
One can easily imagine an early 1900s novel depicting a dystopian future in which the human race, totally disconnected from nature, consumes rainbow-embellished “cereals” while chugging acidic green liquid. Eventually, they discover that some corrupt oil tycoon has been lacing their food with petroleum, sparking a mass public health movement.
Unfortunately, most public health officials have been paid off by the petroleum magnate to vouch for his questionable practices and denounce the protestors as quack conspiracy theorists.
If such a novel existed today, the line between fiction and reality would be virtually imperceptible. Behind the leprechauns and toucans who beckon us to taste their multi-colored comestibles lurks a grimdark plot reminiscent of something a Gotham City villain might concoct. But instead of Batman to save the day, we get Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
In his war against chronic diseases and ultra-processed food, President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health recently announced he intends to “phase out” several food additives that sound more like call signs from “Star Wars” than actual ingredients: Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, and Green No. 3. According to Kennedy, these petroleum-based dyes, which appear in thousands of our foods, have been linked to ADHD, obesity, depression, and other serious ailments.
However, not everyone agrees. Enter the International Association of Color Manufacturers (IACM). The company’s name suggests it may not be an objective source. Nevertheless, the IACM remains convinced that food dyes “are essential for product consistency, visual appeal, and consumer trust in food products.”
“Color additives have been rigorously reviewed by global health authorities … with no safety concerns,” the IACM alleged. “Despite common misconceptions, [natural and synthetic] colors are one of the most highly regulated food additives, with a strong safety profile. They are approved and continue to be used worldwide, including within the European Union, where they are identified by their chemical name and E number.”
At a press conference earlier this week, Mr. Kennedy laid out a very different case, suggesting that food dyes form an “existential” threat to Americans’ well-being and that he’d like to get them “off the market.”
“If they want to eat petroleum, they can add it themselves at home,” he said about the food companies that use synthetic dyes. “They shouldn’t be feeding it to the rest of us without our knowledge or consent.”
He also denounced sugar as a “poison” as addictive as crack. “It’s hurting [our kids], and it’s addicting them, and it’s changing their taste buds so they crave it,” he warned.
Media coverage of the event has been misleading, with several outlets inaccurately reporting that the head of the Department of Health and Human Services issued a ban on food dyes. In reality, Kennedy insinuated he had reached a voluntary “agreement” with food manufacturers to phase out dyes by 2026.
This approach, which would affect products including Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, sodas, and M&M's, has been tried before — with mixed results. In 2015, for example, General Mills announced it would remove artificial dyes from its popular cereal Trix, but later brought them back after the naturally colored version failed to gain traction.
This time around, however, the national conversation about health and processed foods has shifted, suggesting that Americans may be more open to trying healthier alternatives. It goes to show that there’s only so much that can be done from the top down. If Americans truly want to make America healthy again, they must embrace healthier living for themselves.
Fortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening. Millions of Americans — moms, in particular — are rising up to protect their kids. Attributing the progress he’s made thus far to the “warrior moms who have powered the MAHA movement,” he urged his supporters not to stop but to “redouble their efforts because we have [the food companies] on the run now.”
To help restore self-governance to American politics and rid our federal government of the corruption that food manufacturers have taken advantage of for years, sign the COS petition below!
RFK bids adieu to food dyes
Published in Blog on April 24, 2025 by Jakob Fay
