The FDA will eliminate eight petroleum-based synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026, the agency announced on Tuesday. The new regulation will require major food companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and General Mills to reformulate products using natural alternatives such as beet, carrot, or watermelon juice. Artificial dyes are commonly used to enhance the color of processed foods, but their safety has been increasingly questioned. Industry representatives argue insufficient evidence to justify a ban, but the FDA is implementing a national standard and timeline to phase out synthetic food dyes.
