Support for food dye is dying across the US

Licking your bright red fingers after eating a whole bag of Hot Cheetos may soon become a delicacy of the past. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey last week signed a bill into law that bans artificial dyes from food items sold statewide, representing the latest success for a growing nationwide movement.

• West Virginia’s law prohibits seven dyes—including red No. 3 and No. 40—and two preservatives.
• These additives are commonly found in candy, soda, cereals, baked goods, condiments, chips, packaged fruit products, and more.

Why no dyes?

Governments, researchers, and nonprofit organizations have long raised concerns about artificial dyes, which have been linked to serious health problems like cancer, as well as hyperactivity and attention issues in children.

• Experts say the FDA hasn’t reviewed artificial dyes since the 1980s, or years before toxicological studies were advanced enough to detect more of their adverse effects.
• In mid-January, the FDA banned red dye No. 3 in response to a 2022 petition citing decades-old research that showed the dye causes cancer in animals.

Zoom out: A total of 25 other states across the political spectrum—from deep-red Arkansas to deep-blue California—are also seeking to ban dyes and other additives in food, while Health Secretary RFK Jr. last month told food executives that removing artificial food dyes nationwide is an urgent priority.