Think of the some of the more brightly colored foods you have in your pantry or your fridge, whether it’s a fruit-flavored kid-favorite breakfast cereal or a condiment that’s a few shades too bold to be natural. It’s likely many of these processed foods get their bright colors from one of many artificial dyes. Although deemed safe by the Food & Drug Administration, artificial food dyes have become the target of state-level legislation and received renewed scrutiny based on research that links them to a range of health problems, from ADHD to cancer. But with all the buzz, it can be difficult to break it all down and look at the facts.
Where are these food dyes banned? In fall 2024, California became the first state to pass a law saying any foods containing any of a specific list of food dyes—specifically Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3—from being served in school cafeterias, effective 2028.
But that’s California. What about here in Maryland? Maryland is one of several states following California’s lead, with a bill currently in the state senate to ban Red 3, also known as Erythrosine. This petroleum-derived additive gives foods a cherry color and is found in more than 2,700 foods on the U.S. market. If Senate Bill 1136 were to pass the Maryland Senate, these foods could not be sold in Maryland as of October 2027 unless those manufacturers changed their recipes.
Are food dyes actually that harmful? The answer is complicated. These dyes have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Some consumer advocacy groups, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, say the research the FDA bases its approval on is outdated. Red 3, the artificial dye under scrutiny in Maryland, has been linked to neurobehavioral problems in some children. “Even the FDA in the 1990s recognized Red 3 as a thyroid carcinogen in animals and banned it from being used externally (for example, in makeup). And on January 15th, the FDA finally banned its use in food, effective for manufacturers beginning in 2027.
Could these foods actually be banned? It’s worth noting these state laws don’t ban any foods—instead, they require the foods to be made without artificial dyes, just as they would be sold on most European markets. Natural dyes, such as carrot juice or beet juice, are frequently used as an alternative.
How has the FDA responded? The FDA regularly reviews food additives. In response to consumer advocacy groups and state-level legislation, the FDA said it will conduct a post-market assessment of artificial dyes to determine whether data would support a decision to revoke their use. Only time will tell if other dyes will be retired from foods.
