Dozens of ice cream manufacturers are planning to remove artificial dyes from products by the end of 2027, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the latest voluntary move by the food industry to support Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mission to eliminative artificial additives.
The group of producers, which represents more than 90 percent of ice cream sold in the U.S., pledged to eliminate the use of certified artificial colors Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from ice cream and frozen dairy desserts.
The commitment applies to products made with real milk sold at food retail locations, not products made with nondairy ingredients and those made in-house at local businesses.
The IDFA noted artificial colors are safe for use in foods, but the group is looking to avoid sales disruptions because states are following Kennedy’s urging and are phasing out certified artificial colors in school foods.
“I am proud of ice cream makers and dairy foods companies for stepping up for American families by making this voluntary commitment to provide ice cream and frozen dairy treats without certified artificial colors,” Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA, said in a statement. “Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve.”
Kennedy has made removing artificial dyes from food a key priority of his “make America healthy again” movement.
Kennedy announced in April that he had a voluntary “understanding” with the food industry to remove petroleum-based dyes by the end of 2026. He has long blamed artificial additives in food for chronic health problems, including obesity and heart disease.
Companies like Kraft Heinz and Nestlé have already pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phaseout.
“I applaud the International Dairy Foods Association for stepping up to eliminate certified artificial colors,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The American people have made it clear — they want real food, without chemicals. Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.”
During a press conference Monday, Kennedy said the Trump administration “wants to encourage Americans to take control of their health — to eat right, to have lifestyle changes that save us all. And that’s the patriotic thing to do, not only for our country but for every individual American. It’s a patriotic duty to keep ourselves healthy.”
Monday’s announcement came the same day the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of gardenia as a blue food coloring, the fourth color derived from natural sources the agency approved in the last two months.
Gardenia blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA said it approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced noncarbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy and soft candy.
