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Morrisey recently banning a list of colorful artificial food dyes in West Virginia school meals this year. The bill also banned artificial dyes in drugs and food items for sale in the state beginning in 2028.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œPeople are going to be hearing a lot more about getting the crap out of the food,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Morrisey . ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis builds in with the other health care related initiatives that IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve put forth in the Mountain State to make sure that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re incentivizing the consumption of healthy foodsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥¦ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

While other states have banned certain dyes, West VirginiaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s , spearheaded by a group , is the first sweeping food dye ban to be signed into law.

Sen. Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, who championed the bill, also attended KennedyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s announcement in D.C.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a lot of folks that came up to us that are in the [Make America Healthy Again] movement and really indicated their opinion was that because West Virginia took the action that they did, it has forced the large food and beverage manufacturers to come to the table with Secretary Kennedy to develop a plan [to] get these harmful food dyes out of our food,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Barrett said.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services said it aims to work with the food industry to eliminate six synthetic dyes ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” such as red dye No. 40 and blue No. 1 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” from the food and drink supply.

The FDA 36 food dyes, nine of which are artificial and made from petroleum. The Biden administration previously that the federal government would ban Red No. 3 in food beginning in 2027.

The synthetic dyes are used to give foods like Skittles and Cheetos their vibrant hues.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThese poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our childrenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s health and development. That era is coming to an end,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Kennedy said in a .

Kennedy and some West Virginia lawmakers have linked the synthetic dyes to health problems and behavioral issues in children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t established that artificial dyes cause behavioral problems, but those in support of the ban have listed studies showing that they do.

The FDA also announced measures aimed at phasing out the dyes, including establishing a timeline for the food industry to transition from the synthetic dyes to natural alternatives.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI will give the FDA credit in that they have announced there have been several other natural food dyes that are getting approval that will provide more options,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Barrett said.

The Trump administration hasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t received guarantees or written agreement from food companies regarding the artificial dye mandate. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary hopes the food industry will make the changes voluntarily.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThere are a number of tools at our disposal. And so I believe in love, and letÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s start in a friendly way and see if we can do this without any statutory or regulatory changes,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Makary . ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey want to do it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

As West Virginia lawmakers worked on their food dye ban legislation, the stateÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s food and beverage industry on the measure, warning it would lead to increased grocery prices and empty shelves. Alternative ingredients donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t exist to scale, they said.

Lawmakers dismissed that idea, saying it was industry ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œscare tactics.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

The HHS also announced that the FDA will partner with the NIH Nutrition Regulatory Science and Research Program to enhance nutrition and food-related research to better inform regulatory decisions.