A sweet promise is brewing for ice cream lovers. Over forty ice cream makers, making up more than 90% of the market, plan to stop using fake colors in their products. This big change is set to happen by 2028. It will apply to most frozen dairy treats, though non-dairy options might still use these colors.
This shift is a choice by food companies, a nod to concerns about health. The Trump administration had pushed for food makers to drop these synthetic colors. Big names in the food world, like Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills, have also said they’ll remove artificial colors from their goods.
The announcement came during a press conference at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Several figures were there, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a strong voice against artificial additives. Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon who has advised on health, also attended, alongside Brooke Rollins, a White House domestic policy adviser. Michael Dykes, who leads the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), shared the news. He noted that about 40 ice cream and frozen dairy dessert makers had agreed to the change. The IDFA did not share the names of these companies.
The plan is to remove seven specific synthetic colors. These include Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. This marks a significant move toward using more natural ingredients in our desserts.
However, some experts say this is only part of the story. Deanna Holcher, a nutrition expert from the University of Texas, thinks removing artificial colors is good. But she warns that officials shouldn’t forget other big health risks. She points to added sugar and saturated fat, which are common in ice cream. These, she suggests, might be larger causes of long-term health problems.
Adding another layer to the health debate, Dr. Makary hinted at big changes to come. He mentioned new federal nutrition guidelines expected later this year. These guidelines might challenge the long-held belief that saturated fat is directly linked to heart disease. He called the current view “70 years of blaming natural saturated fat.”
Americans eat a lot of ice cream, about four gallons each year. For a long time, health groups have asked for artificial colors to be taken out of food. They point to different studies suggesting these colors can cause some brain and behavior issues. This includes problems like hyperactivity and focus troubles in certain children. Yet, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has always said that the colors they approve are safe. They also state that most children don’t have bad reactions when they eat foods with these colors.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of these colors. He has urged food companies to stop using them. Federal officials agree, suggesting that manufacturers should use colors from fruit juices, plant extracts, and other natural sources instead.
In recent months, the FDA has approved some new natural color additives. One new blue color comes from the fruit of the gardenia flower. The FDA confirmed that this color, called genipin, is now approved for use in sports drinks, candies, and other foods.
Dr. Makary also sent letters to food makers this week. He pushed them to quickly remove Red 3, a dye that was banned in January. While Red 3 was found to cause cancer in rats, it has not shown the same effect in humans. Food manufacturers have until 2027 to get rid of this dye.
Source: AP