The FDA has given the green light to beetroot red and has also sanctioned the use of spirulina extract<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, Feb. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a> (FDA) will now allow food labels to claim products have \u201cno artificial colors\u201d as long as they avoid petroleum-based dyes.<\/p>\n Before this change, announced Wednesday, food companies could usually make that claim only if a product had no added color at all, even if the color came from natural sources.<\/p>\n Now, foods colored with ingredients derived from plants such as algae or beets can still carry the \u201cno artificial colors\u201d label.<\/p>\n The FDA told manufacturers it plans to use \u201cenforcement discretion,\u201d meaning it won\u2019t penalize companies for using this updated wording on a voluntary basis.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is real progress,\u201d U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr<\/a>. said. \u201cWe are making it easier for companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors and adopt safer, naturally derived alternatives. This momentum advances our broader effort to help Americans eat real food and ‘Make America Healthy Again.’\u201d<\/p>\n Along with the labeling change, the FDA approved beetroot red as a new food color option and expanded the use of spirulina extract, a blue-green coloring made from algae.<\/p>\n These approvals bring the number of new food color options approved under the current administration to six.<\/p>\n FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary<\/a> said the old rules caused confusion for shoppers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe acknowledge that calling colors derived from natural sources \u2018artificial\u2019 might be confusing for consumers and a hindrance for companies to explore alternative food coloring options,\u201d Makary said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking away that hindrance and making it easier for companies to use these colors in the foods our families eat every day,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Last April, federal health leaders announced plans to push food makers to phase out petroleum-based dyes. The FDA is publicly tracking<\/a> which companies have pledged to remove these colors.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are working diligently to facilitate industry\u2019s phase out of petroleum-based colors and speed up authorizations for colors that are derived from alternative sources,\u201d said Kyle Diamantas<\/a>, deputy commissioner for human foods.<\/p>\n He said this week\u2019s actions give companies even more ways to “transition to the use of alternative colors derived from natural sources.\u201d<\/p>\n While encouraging companies to switch to plant-based colors, the FDA reminded manufacturers they are still responsible for making sure all color additives meet safety and purity standards.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n Read the FDA’s full letter to food manufacturers<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Feb. 5, 2026<\/p>\n