Overview

• About 40 dairy-based ice cream producers covering over 90% of the U.S. retail market pledged to eliminate Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 by the end of 2027–28.
• This pledge builds on an April initiative under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and follows June commitments from Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and General Mills to drop synthetic colorants by 2026–27.
• The International Dairy Foods Association announced the plan at a USDA event attended by Secretary Brooke Rollins, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
• FDA approved a gardenia-derived blue additive this week and has urged manufacturers to accelerate the removal of Red 3 after banning it earlier in 2025 over cancer findings in animal studies.
• Consumer advocates warn that without enforceable rules and given ice cream’s sugar and fat content, voluntary dye cuts may not guarantee compliance or significant health gains.