By Katherine Hamilton

The Consumer Brands Association is encouraging food and beverage companies to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic colors from products served in schools by the fall of 2026.

The Friday statement from the trade association group, which focuses on consumer packaged goods, comes after several companies including General Mills and Kraft Heinz have said they plan to remove artificial colors from their products.

The dyes, including Blue No. 1 and Red No. 40, are not banned by the Food and Drug Administration, so companies removing the colors would be going above and beyond what is required, the association said.

The FDA has to prioritize increasing access to natural color alternatives to help companies meet this voluntary commitment, the association added.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has made removing artificial colors from foods and drinks a top priority, speaking with several of the companies that have since vowed to remove the dyes.

Write to Katherine Hamilton at katherine.hamilton@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 11, 2025 16:09 ET (20:09 GMT)

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