Overview

• The International Dairy Foods Association announced that 40 ice cream and frozen dessert companies will phase out Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 from real-milk products sold at retail by the end of 2027, with some deadlines extending into 2028.
• The commitment applies exclusively to dairy-based products representing more than 90% of U.S. ice cream sales and excludes non-dairy and in-house offerings at local businesses.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins joined IDFA leadership for the announcement at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.
• The FDA has accelerated approval of natural color additives, including a new gardenia (genipin) blue dye, to support industry efforts to replace petroleum-derived colorants.
• Consumer advocates caution that voluntary, non-binding pledges may fall short without regulatory requirements, especially as state-level bans and school food restrictions take effect.