These Artificial Food Dyes Are Strictly Regulated In Europe But Not The U.S.

Korin Miller
·2-min read
drinking glasses with pink, yellow and blue food dyes
Food Dyes Banned In The U.S. vs. Europe, Per An RD Erich Bucher / 500px

Food additives have been a huge topic in the U.S. for years, but really caught fire earlier this month when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a ban on red dye 3.

The topic came up again during the confirmation hearing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During his hearing, RFK Jr. noted that products like Froot Loops are made with less additives in Europe than they are in the U.S.

But while the idea that some additives and dyes are banned in Europe has been floated around before, it isn’t necessarily true. In fact, only some countries have banned or restricted some of the additives we use.

Meet the Expert: Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

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Here’s what you need to know.

Which food dyes are banned in the U.S.?

The biggest food dye banned in the U.S. is red dye 3. However, that dye is technically still allowed in the food supply until July 15, 2027. At that point, it will be officially banned.

However, other dyes that have been banned in the U.S., per the Center for Science in the Public Interest, include:

  • Butter yellow

  • Green 1

  • Green 2

  • Orange 1

  • Orange 2

  • Orange B

  • Red 1

  • Red 2

  • Red 4

  • Red 32

  • Sudan 1

  • Violet 1

  • Yellow 1

  • Yellow 2

  • Yellow 3

  • Yellow 4

Which food dyes are banned in Europe?

There’s a lot of chatter about artificial food dyes being banned in Europe, but that’s actually not accurate.

Instead, three are three dyes that are approved for use in the U.S. that are under strict regulations in Europe. The European Union currently requires that products that contain these dyes have a warning that they can affect attention in children:

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  • Red 40

  • Yellow 6

  • Yellow 5

Could more food dyes be banned in the future?

It’s hard to say. The biggest concern with food dyes is artificial food dyes—there are dyes made from natural sources like beets, turmeric, and carrots that are not considered problematic.

Bans on some artificial dyes are also happening on a state level. California has already banned red dye 40, yellow dyes 5 and 6, blue dyes 1 and 2, and green dye 3 from being offered in schools starting Dec. 31, 2027.

Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, says “it’s a possibility” that more artificial dyes will go on the chopping block in the future. However, nothing is certain at this point.

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