FDA approves natural blue food dye amid push to phase out synthetic additives [View all]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 11:06 AM, Jul 14, 2025 and last updated 11 minutes ago


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a natural blue color additive derived from gardenia fruit in a range of food and drink products, the agency announced Monday.

The newly approved additive, called gardenia (genipin) blue, can be used in sports drinks, flavored water, fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas and candy. The FDA granted the petition submitted by the Gardenia Blue Interest Group to use the additive at levels consistent with "good manufacturing practices."

It’s the fourth natural-source color additive the FDA has approved in the past two months, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce synthetic, petroleum-based dyes in the U.S. food supply.

The FDA’s action aligns with a policy push by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced a sweeping initiative to “Make America Healthy Again.” That plan includes working with the food industry to voluntarily phase out synthetic dyes from foods.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/food-and-drink/fda-approves-natural-blue-food-dye-amid-push-to-phase-out-synthetic-additives