FDA Bans Orange B, Floats Banning Another Additive

‘The Trump Administration is taking decisive action to strengthen the safety of America’s food supply,’ the health secretary said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Federal regulators on July 22 finalized a ban on a color additive called Orange B.

The Food and Drug Administration repealed authorization that let companies add Orange B, which was primarily used in casings for hot dogs and sausages, regulators said in a rule set to be published on Thursday.

“We have determined that the authorized use of Orange B has been abandoned, and we have concluded that this color additive regulation is outdated and unnecessary,” FDA officials said.

Health officials said in 2025 that they were planning to ban Orange B and another additive, Citrus Red No. 2, prompting many companies to phase out those and other synthetic colors.

Comments from the public received since then did not change the FDA’s conclusion that the industry no longer uses Orange B.

The ban on Orange B will take effect in 46 days.

Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in a statement that by removing outdated authorizations under President Donald Trump’s reform agenda, “we are ensuring our regulations remain effective, transparent, and aligned with the agency’s public health mission.”

“The Trump Administration is taking decisive action to strengthen the safety of America’s food supply,” added Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “By working to eliminate outdated authorizations for petroleum-based color additives that are no longer used, we are modernizing our food safety regulations and helping to Make America Healthy Again.”

The Consumer Brands Association, which represents manufacturers of food and drinks, has not responded to the ban.

The FDA on Wednesday also floated revoking authorization to use Citrus Red No. 2 in food, in part because regulators said it is no longer used by companies.

The agency is accepting comments on the proposal for 30 days following its official publication on Thursday.

The FDA previously said it was banning a third additive, Red No. 3, and that companies would have to stop using it in January 2027.

Six other color additives are still allowed, but federal officials have said that companies should phase them out due to concerns about their impact on health. A 2021 review from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that the dyes can lead to neurobehavioral problems and hyperactivity in children.

Dozens of companies have in recent months pledged to stop using some or all of the synthetic dyes, including Walmart, Mondelez, and PepsiCo.