The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that products without petroleum-based colors will be allowed to claim ‘no artificial colors.’ In the past, companies were generally only allowed to make the ‘no artificial colors’ claim if they had no added color whatsoever.

The agency first announced this in a letter to the industry signaling their intent to exercise enforcement discretion on the matter. The move, officials say, will further incentivize companies that choose to use naturally-derived colors.

“This is real progress,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “We are making it easier for companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors and adopt safer, naturally-derived alternatives. This momentum advances our broader effort to help Americans eat real food and make America healthy again.”

The agency also approved beetroot red as a new color option, and approved a petition for the expanded use of spirulina extract. The administration has now approved six new food color options.

“We acknowledge that calling colors derived from natural sources ‘artificial’ might be confusing for consumers and a hindrance for companies to explore alternative food coloring options,” said Marty Makary, MD, Commissioner of FDA. “We’re taking away that hindrance and making it easier for companies to use these colors in the foods our families eat every day.”

HHS and FDA first announced plans to encourage the food industry to phase out petroleum-based colors, approved through the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act from the nation’s food supply on a voluntary basis in April 2025. In the time since, FDA has been tracking which brands have pledged to do so.

“We are working diligently to facilitate industry’s phase out of petroleum-based colors and speed up authorizations for colors that are derived from alternative sources,” said Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at FDA. “The actions announced today give companies even more ways to transition to the use of alternative colors derived from natural sources.”