FDA Cracks Down on Children's Health: Commissioner Makary Smiles at Food Dye Ban's "First Step"
PepsiCo announced plans to eliminate artificial components from top-selling food products by the year 2025.
In a chat with us here at Digital, FDA Chief Marty Makary lets out a hearty grin while discussing the anniversary of the food industry's move towards natural alternatives, initiated by Health and Human Services Secretary Bob Kennedy Jr.'s rallying cry for a ban on artificial ingredients.
The food giants aren't wasting time – PepsiCo's boss, Ramon Laguarta, proudly announced during an April meeting that they're already on the road to shedding artificial ingredients, as reported by Food Business News.
Laguarta declared that over 60% of their portfolio has already done away with artificial colors, and the rest of the transformation awaits. He also highlighted that Lay's and Tostitos chips will wave goodbye to those pesky artificial dyes by year's end.
Kennedy Jr. and Makary declared a ban on synthetic petroleum-based dyes last Tuesday, with the HHS laying out plans to establish a timeline for the food industry's transition to better, natural options.
The HHS's plan includes revoking authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B in the following months, while working with industry to send off six remaining synthetic dyes – Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Blue No. 2 – from the shelves by 2026.
Liana Werner-Gray, a certified nutritionist and advocate for "Make America Healthy Again," expressed joy over this crucial victory for public health, long overdue, she said. The creator of "The Earth Diet" – a natural lifestyle guide focusing on whole foods, believes that this initiative is a game-changer for our food ecosystem.
With her personal experience demonstrating the ill effects of artificial dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and others, Werner-Gray celebrated the shift to a cleaner, nourishing food system. She noticed that those symptoms disappeared when she opted for natural, whole-food-based alternatives 16 years ago.
Werner-Gray sees the food industry's manipulation as a long-standing issue and praised the FDA under the guidance of Kennedy and Makary for taking a monumental step towards returning integrity to our food supply. She urged industry players to speed up the clean-up process, as natural and nourishing food should be the norm, not a luxury.
Laguarta made it clear that PepsiCo's items will remain safe, and consumers will still have the liberty to choose what they wish to put on their tables. But in Werner-Gray's view, raising the standards for sustainable, natural, and nutritious food is essential.
- Liana Werner-Gray, a certified nutritionist, expressed joy over the ban on synthetic petroleum-based dyes, believing it to be a crucial victory for public health.
- Werner-Gray, creator of "The Earth Diet," sees this initiative as a game-changer for our food ecosystem, emphasizing the need for a shift towards natural, whole-food-based alternatives.
- PepsiCo, in response, stated that their items will remain safe, ensuring consumers still have the freedom to make their own choices about what they eat.
- However, Werner-Gray urged industry players, including PepsiCo, to speed up the transition to cleaner, more nourishing food, advocating for a norm of sustainable, natural, and nutritious food instead of a luxury.
- FDA's phased revocation of authorization for synthetic dyes, such as Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, and the planned elimination of six remaining synthetic dyes by 2026, aligns with the general shift in the food-and-drink industry towards health-and-wellness and nutrition.
- Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo's boss, has already acknowledged this movement, stating that his company is in the process of phasing out artificial ingredients, aiming to offer healthier food, and drink options to consumers.
