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FDA Approves Three Natural Food Dyes in Push to Replace Synthetics

The agency greenlit new uses for Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate as part of a broader initiative to phase out petroleum-based dyes by 2026.

Overview

  • The FDA approved two new natural color additives, Galdieria extract blue and butterfly pea flower extract, and expanded the use of calcium phosphate in food products.
  • Galdieria extract blue is now permitted in items like fruit juices, smoothies, candy, and breakfast cereals.
  • Butterfly pea flower extract's use has been extended to ready-to-eat cereals, chips, and snack mixes.
  • Calcium phosphate has been approved for applications including ready-to-eat chicken products and sugar coatings for candies.
  • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized the approvals as a step toward eliminating synthetic dyes, with voluntary commitments from manufacturers like Tyson Foods to reformulate products by the 2026 target.