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FDA Approves Three New Natural Food Dyes Under Nationwide Transition Plan

The approvals for Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate mark a significant step in the FDA’s effort to phase out synthetic petroleum-based dyes by 2026.

The Food and Drug Administration seal is seen before the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. news conference on the FDA's intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation's food supply at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Marshmallow Peeps candy, which had contained red dye No. 3, no longer does. The company removed Red 3 from the product in 2024. The Red. No. 3 was banned earlier this year but manufacturers have until 2027-28 to stop using it. 
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the FDA's intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation's food supply at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
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Overview

  • The FDA has approved three new natural color additives: Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate, expanding options for food manufacturers.
  • This approval aligns with the HHS initiative to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2026, with Red No. 3 set for removal by 2027–28.
  • Galdieria extract blue, derived from algae, is now approved for use in beverages, popsicles, candy, yogurt, and other food items.
  • Butterfly pea flower extract, obtained from dried flower petals, can now be used in snacks like chips and cereals in addition to beverages, gum, and ice cream.
  • Calcium phosphate, a white coloring, is authorized for use in ready-to-eat chicken, doughnut sugar coatings, and candy melts, ensuring a broader range of natural options.