These Are The 3 New Naturally Made Colored Food Additives Approved By The FDA
Image Source / AP Photo Jeff Roberson
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the goal to eliminate artificial food dyes from the nation's food supply by the end of 2026 earlier this year. Since, companies have been left wondering what dyes will be approved as substitutes. This month, the FDA granted petitions for 3 new naturally made dyes. There's galdieria extract blue, a blue color made from algae and another more popular blue dye, butterfly pea flower extract, which is extracted from dried flower petals. Lastly, calcium phosphate minerals create a white color alternative. These approvals have already been published in the federal register and will take effect this month.
FDA Layoffs Force Administration To Cut Back On Routine Inspections
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The FDA's Office of Inspections and Investigations experienced layoffs of nearly 170 employees this month. The agency has been struggling with inspection delays for several years, with a backlog dating to the pandemic in 2021. These layoffs are set to worsen delays, according to multiple FDA officials. Missing roles within the organization will drastically effect operations, notably, the termination of the travel operations division. According to a January report by the Government Accountability Office, the FDA faces a massive list of missed deadlines by Congress.
USDA Eliminates $1 Billion Of Funding For School Cafeterias And Food Banks
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The USDA has terminated two financial aid programs for school cafeterias and food banks. The Local Food For Schools Cooperative Agreement Program would have directed $660 million in funding for school cafeterias, while the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program earmarked $500 million to support food banks. The funding loss is likely increase the amount of low-cost, pre-prepared ingredients and processed foods in school lunches. "School meals have the potential to nourish students as well as to expand their palates, which can only happen with local foods and financial support of school meals," said Pamela Koch, professor of nutrition and education at Columbia University.
The Way U.S. Food Additives Are Regulated Could Change In The Next Few Years
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Many food additives such as titanium dioxide and propylparaben are banned in several countries but still allowed in food produced in the U.S. “The E.U. says that if they can’t dismiss the possibility of harm, they can’t find an additive safe,” says Thomas Galligan, principal scientist for food additives at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “In the U.S., it feels like the FDA is waiting to act until harm is definitely proven." How the FDA regulates food additives is likely to change in the next few years as Robert F. Kennedy publicly criticizes current regulations systems and pushes for change in his role as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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FDA Bans Brominated Vegetable Oil In Soft Drinks And All Food And Beverages
Image Source: Natalia Campbell
As of August 2, brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is prohibited from all food and drink produced and sold in the US. BVO is most often used as a stabilizer in soft drinks to keep citrus flavor from separating and floating to the top. The FDA collaborated with the National Institutes of Health on a series of studies, found that BVO is linked to potential harm to the thyroid, liver, and heart, and concluded that the "intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe." In 2014, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola voluntarily agreed to remove BVO from Gatorade and other beverages, but about 600 food and beverage products still contain BVO, including the popular soft drinks Sun Drop and Orangette. According to the FDA, companies have one year to “reformulate, relabel and stop selling products that contain BVO.”
Supreme Court Rules Against New York City's Ban On Foie Gras
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In 2019, New York's City Council enacted a foie-gras ban, mostly intended to curtail the controversial practice of force-feeding ducks to enlarge their livers. The ban wound its way through the courts as the state's duck farmers lobbied against it and animal rights activists championed it. The ban was initially set to go into effect in November 2022, but litigation held it in court until last week, when the New York Supreme Court ruled against the ban, much to the chagrin of those who fought for it. NYC's restaurants can now continue to legally serve the delicacy. Score one for gourmands.
