Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin Say Goodbye to Dyes

Big changes are coming to our food, especially the fun, crazy, and colorful stuff. The FDA just announced it’s phasing out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes across the nation, and folks in the Tri-States are ready to say goodbye.

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In our house, this news hits close to home. My wife runs a dessert decorating and tutorial page, and our kitchen is usually filled with edible glitter, sprinkles, and more shades of frosting than you can imagine (or eat). But when she started flipping over the labels on those cute little jars, it was eye-opening: almost every single one was loaded with synthetic dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. And get this, all of them are derived from petroleum.

Now, the FDA is taking steps to retire these dyes from the food supply, and it’s a welcome shift. They’re already revoking the use of Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, and asking food companies to eliminate six more by the end of next year. These aren’t just “colorful” ingredients. Research shows they’ve been linked to behavioral issues in children, including ADHD. Some are even banned or restricted in many other countries.

In fact, in Europe, food companies often reformulate products to avoid these same dyes entirely. In the EU, many artificial food colors require warning labels, and additives like Red 40 and Yellow 5 are either restricted or avoided altogether. While our cereal in the U.S. may look brighter and vibrant, it is far less natural than its European counterpart.

The FDA is fast-tracking natural alternatives like butterfly pea flower, gardenia blue, and Galdieria extract. And for home bakers like my wife, many bakers have begun exploring new brands that use fruit and vegetable-based colors. The hues are often as true and safer overall.

So whether you're in Iowa whipping up cupcakes, in Illinois packing school lunches, or in Wisconsin browsing the baking aisle, this shift away from synthetic dyes is a reason to celebrate. Finally, food can look fun and stay natural.