In a significant shift for the American food industry, 40 ice cream manufacturers — representing 90% of the U.S. ice cream market — have pledged to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products by the end of 2027, aligning with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
🚨 JUST IN: In ANOTHER MAHA victory, major ice cream makers in the US now plan to ELIMINATE artificial food dyes from their products by 2028.
40 producers are doing this, accounting for 90+% of all ice cream sold in the US. MASSIVE.
RFK JR hardly had to lift a finger to make… pic.twitter.com/r8D44EZljc
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 14, 2025
The announcement, first reported by USA Today, follows Kennedy’s March appeal to major food companies to voluntarily remove synthetic dyes linked to chronic illnesses, particularly in children. His push is part of a broader federal campaign aimed at reducing harmful additives in processed foods.
“The American people have made it clear — they want real food, not chemicals,” Kennedy said in a joint statement with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which confirmed the industry commitment.
The dyes being eliminated include several Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) certified color additives such as Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3. Though approved by the FDA, these additives have been the subject of growing scrutiny over links to hyperactivity, allergies, and potential carcinogenic effects. The removals are voluntary, not mandated by regulation — a strategy aimed at minimizing backlash while accelerating reform through public pressure and industry cooperation.
Major food companies are following suit. General Mills recently pledged to remove artificial colors from its cereals. The J.M. Smucker Company announced it would eliminate FD&C dyes from its entire portfolio, and Kraft Heinz said it will no longer release products with artificial colors, phasing them out of existing items as well.
Today I joined @SecRollins, @DrMakaryFDA, and American dairy farmers to celebrate another MAHA win: 40 companies—representing 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the U.S.— have pledged to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products. pic.twitter.com/95mzNNYH19
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) July 14, 2025
The movement has gained institutional momentum. On Monday, Kennedy and other officials gathered outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a ceremonial launch. In a social media post, Kennedy shared images of the event, where officials and dairy farmers celebrated over ice cream.
“Today I joined @SecRollins, @DrMakaryFDA, and American dairy farmers to celebrate another MAHA win,” Kennedy wrote. “40 companies — representing 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the U.S. — have pledged to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) called the move a landmark victory in the administration’s health agenda, stating the companies are “joining a tidal wave of manufacturers eliminating harmful additives from our food supply.”
