FDA delays approval of 2 natural food dyes following safety objections

Critics said the agency skipped critical assessments when approving beetroot red and expanding uses for spirulina extract.

What happened

The FDA has delayed approval for beetroot red as a natural food dye and the expansion of spirulina extract as it responds to criticism over their safety.

Advocacy group GMO/Toxin Free USA says the version of beetroot red approved by the FDA is synthetically produced and hasn’t been ruled out as a possible carcinogen. In a separate complaint, Obelisk Tech Systems argues the move to expand uses for spirulina poses heavy metal safety risks.

Why it matters

The FDA said the delay in effective date "does not change" its determination that the dyes "are safe for their intended uses." The agency also emphasized it continues to not enforce rules around using the “no artificial colors” label as long as companies avoid petroleum-based dyes.

The Trump administration has raced to expand natural dye options after asking food companies to voluntarily remove artificial colors by the end of this year. However, industry players say the agency did not perform important safety assessments when approving these colors, and also raised questions over whether the dyes can truly be considered "natural."

"The push for 'sustainable' colors should not come at the expense of consumer transparency and safety," GMO/Toxin Free USA wrote in its objections to beetroot red.

This news brief is based on reporting published by Food Dive on 2026-04-09. The original report is linked below.