Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Ban Synthetic Dyes from America's Food, Medicine, and Cosmetics

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 29, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Eliminating Dangerous Color Additives Act, legislation to remove synthetic certified color additives from food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics sold in the United States.

Among these are Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1. Americans unknowingly consume these synthetic food dyes every day. They are found in everything from breakfast cereals and candy to sports drinks, children's medicine, and cosmetics, only serving one purpose: to make products look more colorful on store shelves.

"Synthetic dyes are tied to serious health and behavioral concerns, and provide no meaningful purpose beyond making products look prettier on the shelf," said Congresswoman Mace. "American families deserve ingredients chosen for their health, not a marketing strategy. If an ingredient is detrimental, it has no business being in your food, your medicine, or your makeup. We're giving manufacturers two years to clean up their products."

Under the Eliminating Dangerous Color Additives Act:

• Prohibition: Beginning two years after enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must deem unsafe, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, every synthetic certified color additive subject to batch-by-batch FDA testing and certification, along with their lake forms, for use in or on food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics.
• Reformulation window: The two-year window provides manufacturers with the time needed to reformulate and improve their products.
• Accountability: Within three years, HHS, acting through the FDA, must report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate HELP Committee on industry reformulation progress, regulatory changes, and recommendations for further congressional action.

The bill does not affect color additives exempt from certification, primarily those naturally derived from fruits, vegetables, and other plant sources.

The Eliminating Dangerous Color Additives Act is part of Rep. Mace's broader Make America Healthy Again agenda, alongside the Eliminating Dangerous Preservatives Act, the REAL Sugar Act, the PEPTIDES for Veterans Act, the SOUND Pesticide Research Act, the Pesticide Transparency on Federal Land Act, the Pesticide Harm Accountability Act, and the Pesticide Data Transparency Act.

SEE BILL TEXT BELOW: 

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