Artificial additives and dyes dying out
By Winston Chu 2/12/2025
Weaving through aisle after aisle in the supermarket, shoppers reach for a variety of different foods. While some grab the fresh produce, others opt for comfort snacks, such as chips, sweets and sodas. However, the distribution and purchase of these unhealthy foods may be experiencing a shift in California’s near future.
On Jan. 3, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to raise health standards in California. The order aims for state agencies to develop recommendations to limit the sale of ultra-processed foods—which are packaged foods that consist of many manufactured ingredients, including chips, cereals, instant meals and carbonated soft drinks. In order to enact the executive order, the Department of Public Health, Department of Health Care Services and Office of Environmental Health Hazard are considering the addition of warning labels on certain products. They have also been tasked with incentivizing enrollees to buy healthy food from Calfresh, California’s food stamp program that provides financial assistance to low income families.
Additionally, these agencies will further investigate the health effects of consuming synthetic dyes and additives. Proposals include imposing penalties for companies that fail to notify the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of certain additives in their products; additives such as Red 40, potassium bromate and titanium dioxide may induce harmful side effects when consumed, according to the Environmental Working Group.
“My family typically does look at food labels before buying food products to get a general idea of the ingredients. However, we do not really pay attention to additives and other artificial dyes. I don’t think the order will affect me or other youth unless certain snacks actually get banned from being sold,” Sophomore Tapasya Pillai said.
This was not Newsom’s first nutrition-focused directive, but rather the latest in a series of battles. In October 2023, Newsom passed the California Food Safety Act, banning red dye 3, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate from all food products. These chemicals were found to be carcinogenic or neurotoxic, according to CalMatters, and will be illegal in California by 2027.
Likewise, in September 2024, the governor signed a law to prohibit K-12 schools from selling food containing artificial food dyes such as Red 40. Although recent research has linked synthetic dyes to hyperactivity and concentration issues, particularly in children, the ban will not go into effect until 2028.
“Newsom's order might dissuade people from purchasing ultra-processed products, encouraging them to instead consider cooking healthy food from scratch. Hopefully, the order might also allow school nutrition to feature more healthy items,” Junior Aishwarya Vinodh said.
Similar to California, there have been renewed nationwide efforts to evaluate food dyes: the FDA recently launched a new effort to take a second look into previously approved additives. On Jan. 15, the FDA revoked the authorization of Red 3 in food and ingested drugs after two studies found that rats exposed to the dye developed cancer back in the 1980s, according to the LA Times. This could be attributed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s echoing criticism of synthetic dyes after being appointed U.S. Secretary of Health.
While brightly colored food dyes are already banned in many countries in the European Union, the United States has yet to implement a similar law until now. Kennedy and Newsom may very well be majorly altering diets for many Americans in the years to come.
About the Contributors
Winston Chu
Writer
Winston Chu is a junior at Leland High. This is his second year in Journalism, and his first year as a movie columnist. He enjoys speech and debate, watching television series, and sleeping.
Helen Ruan
Artist
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