Sponsors (4)
Declares ten named color additives (and substantially similar substances) unsafe in food and deems foods containing them adulterated under the FD&C Act.
The bill reduces consumer (especially child and low-income) exposure to certain synthetic food color additives and clarifies regulatory standards, but it imposes reformulation, relabeling, and enforcement risks that could raise costs for manufacturers and prices or reduce availability for some consumers.
Children and other consumers (especially low-income families) will face reduced exposure to the specified synthetic food color additives beginning Jan 1, 2027, lowering potential health risks associated with those additives.
Food manufacturers and retailers — including small businesses — gain clearer regulatory standards because the law designates the listed color additives as per se unsafe, reducing ambiguity about compliance expectations.
Some consumers, particularly low-income households and children, may face higher food prices or reduced availability of certain products as companies reformulate or discontinue items that used the banned color additives.
Manufacturers — especially small food businesses — will incur reformulation, relabeling, and compliance costs to remove the banned color additives, which could strain budgets or narrow product lines.
Firms that continue to sell foods with the listed additives after the effective date risk immediate enforcement actions such as seizures or recalls, exposing small businesses to sudden losses and legal consequences.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem adulterated food containing certain color additives, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 22, 2025 by Grace Meng · Last progress August 22, 2025
Declares ten specified color additives (including Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Red No. 3, Green No. 3, Orange B, Citrus Red 2, and titanium dioxide) unsafe for use in or on food and treats any food containing them as adulterated under existing law, effective January 1, 2027. The provision applies to those named chemicals and any additives substantially similar to them, overriding current listings or exemptions and making affected foods subject to enforcement actions under the FD&C Act.