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RFK: 8 artificial dyes to be eliminated from food
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the banning of more than half a dozen synthetic food dyes is just the beginning as he works to confront America’s chronic health crisis.
Tyson Foods will stop using high fructose corn syrup, sucralose and some other additives in popular food brands, including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm and more, the company announced this week.
Tyson, one of the largest food companies in the country, said high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, BHA/BHT and Titanium Dioxide will be removed from its brands by the end of 2025. Those brands also include Wright, State Fair, Aidells, ibp and others.
In a statement, Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King said the decision "reflects our ongoing commitment to feeding the world like family, while preserving the taste, value and integrity that define our iconic brands."
FILE - Jimmy Dean sausage products are displayed February 10, 2005, at a supermarket in Washington, DC. Feb. 10, 2005. (Photo by Chris Kleponis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
RFK Jr. takes on food additives
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Tyson is voluntarily removing the five additives, but the move aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, whose nutrition views often diverge from mainstream nutrition science. Kennedy has spoken out against sugar and chemical additives in food. His agency is expected to release updated nutrition guidelines later this year.
What they're saying:
In March, Kennedy said he had met with the CEOs of major food producers, including Tyson Foods, to discuss removing chemical additives from the nation’s food supply.
"For far too long, ingredient manufacturers and sponsors have exploited a loophole that has allowed new ingredients and chemicals, often with unknown safety data, to be introduced into the U.S. food supply without notification to the FDA or the public," Kennedy said in a statement in March.
"You should be able to exercise informed choice. You should know what that product is, what’s in your food and what the health impacts are, and that’s all we’re going to do," Kennedy said in March.
"We’re going to incentivize people, to incentivize companies to be transparent, and we’re going to inform Americans about what’s making them sick," Kennedy continued. "Nobody wants to be sick."
What is high fructose corn syrup?
High fructose corn syrup is made of the simple sugars glucose and fructose in liquid form, according to The Associated Press.
High fructose corn syrup costs less and is more stable than sugar when added to acidic beverages and foods. It can also be pumped directly from delivery trucks into storage and mixing tanks.
It’s got about the same amount of calories as cane sugar, and the same potential to increase well-documented health problems.
High fructose corn syrup causes weight gain, inflammation and a host of other health problems, though the Food and Drug Administration says there is no evidence of any difference in safety among foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and those with sugar, honey or other traditional sweeteners.
What is sucralose?
Sucralose is better known by its brand name, Splenda. It’s an artificial sweetener 600 times sweeter than table sugar, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, testing in rodents shows that sucralose upsets the microbiome balance, which can lead to increased inflammation.
What is BHA/BHT?
According to UCLA Health, BHA and BHT, short for butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene, are antioxidants used as preservatives in a variety of foods, including snack foods, meats, butter, chewing gum and rice, as well as cosmetic products and medications.
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U.S. ice cream makers to stop using artificial dyes
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials gathered in Washington D.C. for a major announcement in July. U.S. dairy farmers and ice cream makers have pledged to remove artificial food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 from real milk ice cream sold in stores by December 2027. Rollins called it a "major step" toward cleaner ingredients in America's ice cream.
"Both BHA and BHT prevent oxidation of oils, helping prevent ingredients from becoming rancid and, in some foods – such as breakfast cereals, baked goods and potato chips -- helping maintain product crispness," UCLA Health says.
The National Institutes of Health says BHA is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence … from studies in experimental animals."
What is titanium dioxide in foods?
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a synthetically produced white pigment, manufactured from naturally occurring ores, according to the FDA.
It is regulated by the FDA as a color additive and used in many foods, including bakery products and candy. The FDA says it is currently reviewing a petition filed in 2023 asking regulators to ban titanium dioxide in foods.
A recent study found that in nanoparticle form, titanium dioxide can alter the body’s endocrine system by disrupting hormonal response and blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes, obesity and other health problems, according to The Guardian.
The Source: This report includes comments from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and information from Tyson Foods, the FDA, The Guardian, the National Institutes of Health, the Cleveland Clinic, UCLA Health and The Associated Press.