“Since we came in about five and a half months ago and started talking about eliminating dyes and other bad chemicals from our food, we’ve had this extraordinary response from our industry.”
US health and agriculture officials on Tuesday announced that the dairy industry will begin removing synthetic dyes from ice cream products as part of a voluntary pledge promoted by the Trump administration.
The announcement is aimed at improving food quality and offering healthier options, particularly for children. “This is relevant to my favorite food, which is ice cream,” said US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Since we came in about five and a half months ago and started talking about eliminating dyes and other bad chemicals from our food, we’ve had this extraordinary response from our industry.”
According to representatives from the dairy sector, over 40 ice cream companies have agreed to drop synthetic coloring agents from their products, reports the Guardian. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also confirmed the approval of a new natural dye, "gardenia blue," as an alternative.
Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, praised the announcement: “This is a great day for dairy and a great day for ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ We’re so happy with the voluntary industry-led commitment.”
Kennedy said that upcoming dietary guidelines would “elevate” dairy, including full-fat options, in federal nutrition advice. He said the changes would help properly recognize the role of dairy products in promoting children’s health.
The Trump administration has previously leaned on voluntary agreements with various industries, including health insurers and snack food makers, rather than regulatory mandates.
Debates over the health impact of full-fat dairy remain active in the nutrition field. For years, federal guidelines have warned against excessive consumption of saturated fats, added sugars, and refined grains.
However, some researchers now argue that full-fat dairy may not be as harmful as once believed.
The dairy industry has long supported studies challenging older dietary advice and has pushed back on restrictions, particularly those affecting school lunch programs. The effort holds symbolic weight in dairy-heavy rural areas, where messages like “Drink whole milk 97% fat free” are displayed outside farms on hand-painted hay bales.
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