US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called on major food companies, including PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz, to remove artificial dyes from their products before he leaves office, Reuters reports.
In a meeting on Monday, Kennedy emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to improving public health by addressing concerns over food additives, according to an email seen by Reuters.
Kennedy has been a vocal advocate for dietary changes aimed at reducing chronic illnesses. His initiatives include encouraging fast-food chains to switch from seed oils to beef tallow for frying and pushing for bans on certain food additives, including synthetic food colorings.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which operates under Kennedy’s leadership, plans to collaborate with industry leaders to develop a national framework for regulating food dyes. This effort aims to prevent a fragmented approach in which individual states enact their own restrictions, creating challenges for multinational food companies.
Several states have already taken steps to regulate artificial dyes. California banned them in school lunches last year, and similar measures are being considered in Virginia and New York.
The email from the Consumer Brands Association, a trade group representing major food manufacturers, noted that Kennedy expects “real and transformative” changes in the food industry by eliminating harmful ingredients. It also stated that he is prepared to take regulatory action if companies do not voluntarily implement reforms.
Consumer Brands Association CEO Melissa Hockstad expressed a willingness to work with Kennedy on the issue. A PepsiCo spokesperson highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to provide consumers with more natural ingredient options, while Kraft Heinz did not respond to a request for comment.
