McCormick & Co. Collaborating to Remove Synthetic Dyes from Food Products
McCormick & Co. is actively working with restaurants and food manufacturers to reformulate their products in response to the growing momentum to ban synthetic dyes in food, as revealed by the company’s CEO in a recent analyst call.
The movement to eliminate artificial food colors has been gaining traction over the years, but it has received renewed attention with the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We are witnessing an increase in reformulation efforts, which aligns with the recent news and statements from the new administration,” stated Brendan Foley, CEO of McCormick.
Foley also mentioned that McCormick’s consumer product offerings, such as spices and baking ingredients, already have minimal use of food dyes.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a call to action for major food companies like Kraft Heinz and General Mills to eliminate artificial dyes from their products before the end of his term, as reported by Bloomberg earlier this month. The Consumer Brands Association emphasized Kennedy’s expectation for significant changes in the food industry by removing harmful ingredients.
West Virginia recently passed a bill restricting seven artificial dyes from food products sold in the state, following similar initiatives in other states targeting food additives, including artificial colors.
In a significant move, the FDA announced the ban of Red No. 3, a popular artificial coloring in various food products, due to its potential link to cancer in high doses. This decision reflects the ongoing efforts by consumer groups and health advocates to eliminate synthetic colors from food items, citing their lack of nutritional value and potential health risks, especially for children.
While concerns have been raised about the health effects of color additives, the FDA continues to monitor their use without establishing a definitive link to health issues.
Editor’s note: The headline in the McCormick story was updated to clarify that the company is collaborating with restaurants and food manufacturers to reformulate products.