US Ice Cream Makers To Remove Food Dyes By 2028

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India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Building on a broader national effort to improve the quality of the American food supply, dozens of ice cream producers have announced plans to remove synthetic food dyes from their products by 2028.

The initiative follows an April commitment from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reduce the use of artificial food coloring across the country. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, 40 companies—representing over 90% of all ice cream sold in the United States—will voluntarily eliminate dyes such as Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their retail ice cream lines. The move does not currently apply to non-dairy frozen desserts.

The announcement marks a significant step for the U.S. dairy sector and aligns with a growing industry-wide shift toward simpler, more natural ingredients. Several major food manufacturers, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, J.M. Smucker, Hershey, and Nestlé USA, have already begun phasing out synthetic coloring from various products.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins described it as part of a wider strategy to improve health outcomes through food.

Both Rollins and Kennedy have collaborated on food policy reforms, including recent efforts to discourage sugary beverages in federal nutrition assistance programs.

While Kennedy has pointed to possible links between synthetic dyes and rising rates of ADHD and certain cancers—an area where scientific consensus remains cautious—the new measures reflect a proactive, precautionary approach in the food sector.