The food industry is always evolving and adapting, whether because of shifting consumer tastes, supply chain pressures, or emerging trends. Over the next year, the industry will have to adapt again, this time to a new federal government mandate. Last month the Department of Health and Human Services announced that they are preparing to phase out several widely-used artificial dyes from use in food products. Food manufacturers have until the end of 2026 to make the transition, but it offers them a unique opportunity to integrate natural alternatives.
What Is Being Banned and Why?
Synthetic food dyes are effective at providing consistent colors that don’t fade during processing or storage, and for this reason they’ve been used in American food manufacturing for decades. However, consumer attitudes toward synthetic, often petroleum-based additives have shifted significantly in recent years. In addition to the clean label movement, a broad demand for recognizable ingredients has risen at the same time as concerns about the health effects of synthetic ingredients.
The skepticism about synthetic dyes and other ingredients has formed the backdrop for the recent actions of federal officials. In April, the HHS department announced plans to phase out eight synthetic dyes from the food supply by the end of 2026. The targeted dyes include some of the most common colorants used in food manufacturing today: Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, and Citrus Red No. 2. Red No. 3 faces an even tighter deadline, with complete removal from food and ingested drugs required by January 2027.1
The dyes in question currently appear in thousands of everyday products like breakfast cereals, candy, sports drinks, flavored yogurt, and baked goods. The decision to phase them out reflects mounting political pressure from advocacy groups who believe that the dyes may be having behavioral effects on children. The scientific evidence remains mixed, and the FDA has long maintained that approved dyes are safe when used within established limits; nevertheless, public pressure and some state-level legislation (like California’s 2021 synthetic additive ban) have pushed federal regulators toward a more precautionary stance.2
How the Industry Is Responding
In light of these new regulations, food manufacturers are already moving to reformulate affected products ahead of the 2026 deadline. Many companies are accelerating changes that were already underway due to shifts in consumer demand, but what was previously an optional marketing advantage is now a regulatory necessity. In fact, some major brands like Smucker’s, Vlasic, and Kraft Heinz have already made public commitments to switching to natural alternatives; Kraft Heinz is even planning to eliminate all artificial dyes from its U.S. products by 2027.
As manufacturers gradually phase out synthetic options, they’re turning to plant-based colorants that can provide familiar colors using recognizable ingredients. Beets, for instance, are a good source for red tones while turmeric can provide yellows and paprika extract offers orange hues. Other plant-based sources like spirulina, red cabbage, spinach, carrot, and butterfly pea flower are becoming more popular as natural alternatives, and the FDA also recently approved gardenia blue as a new natural color additive for use in foods and beverages.
But even as the industry moves forward confidently, it faces some genuine technical challenges with replacing synthetic dyes. For example, natural colorants often lack the heat and light stability of synthetic alternatives, and this can affect both the product appearance and shelf life. Moreover, sourcing plant-based ingredients at commercial scale can be difficult, particularly for less common botanicals that may have limited supply chains. Many natural colors also show batch-to-batch variation in intensity and hue, requiring manufacturers to adjust other formula components to maintain consistent results across production runs.3
How Silva Can Help During the Transition
As manufacturers continue to navigate this transition, Silva International can be a reliable source and a trusted innovation partner. Our portfolio of dehydrated vegetables and herbs offers practical solutions for companies looking to replace synthetic dyes with recognizable ingredients. Many of the plant-based colorants gaining popularity in reformulation efforts are already part of Silva’s established product line, including beets for red colors, carrots and turmeric for yellows and oranges, and spinach for greens.
The advantage of Silva’s dehydrated ingredients lies in their stability and consistency compared to fresh alternatives. Dehydrated beet powder, for example, provides the same vibrant red coloring as liquid beet juice but with extended shelf life and easier handling in manufacturing environments. Similarly, turmeric powder offers reliable yellow coloring without the processing complications that can come with fresh or liquid forms. These ingredients also fit into the clean label movement since they appear on ingredient lists as familiar vegetables and spices rather than unfamiliar color extracts.
Silva’s processing methods help address some of the technical challenges that manufacturers face when switching to natural colors. The company’s standardized drying and milling processes help minimize batch-to-batch variation while maintaining color intensity. Additionally, Silva can work with manufacturers to develop custom blends that achieve specific color targets while supporting other product requirements like flavor balance and nutritional goals.
Contact Silva for Premium Natural Ingredients
As the 2026 synthetic dye phase-out deadline approaches, finding reliable natural color alternatives will become increasingly important. Silva’s air-dried vegetable and herb ingredients provide practical options for companies looking to reformulate with plant-based alternatives. Whether you’re looking for a particular product or a custom blend, our team can help identify solutions that meet both regulatory requirements and product performance needs. Contact Silva today to learn more about our products and how we can partner with you to make the transition.
1https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply
2https://www.rutgers.edu/news/will-banning-food-dyes-improve-our-health
3https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/kraft-heinz-will-stop-using-artificial-dyes-in-u-s-products-in-2027