McCormick to Remove Food Dyes After Push from RFK Jr. and U.S. Regulators

McCormick Commits to Removing Artificial Dyes and Reducing Sodium

McCormick & Company, a leading global spice and flavoring producer, is actively reformulating its products to remove artificial food dyes and reduce sodium levels—changes sparked in part by mounting scrutiny from U.S. regulators and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cinnamonspice241 / Wikimedia

CEO Brendan Foley Says Reformulation Efforts Are Expanding

Speaking during an earnings call this week, McCormick CEO Brendan Foley confirmed the shift, saying, “We are seeing a tick-up in reformulation activity,” noting the company has consistently worked to reduce sodium and is now accelerating efforts to eliminate dyes. These efforts, he added, are taking place “across our customer base, but also a lot of new product activity, too.” mkupiec7 / Pixabay

Company Embraces Clean-Label Trend in Spices and Seasonings

McCormick’s product lineup primarily includes spices, seasonings, and condiments, and Foley noted that only a small portion of its offerings contain artificial dyes. Nevertheless, the company is aligning itself with a national push for cleaner food products, championed by both regulators and public health advocates. McCormick & Company, Inc. / Wikimedia

Kennedy Pushes FDA to Reevaluate Food Additive Regulations

The move follows renewed focus on food safety regulations, led by Secretary Kennedy. As part of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, Kennedy has instructed the FDA to reevaluate the "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) designation that governs food additives. The goal, he says, is to encourage “radical transparency” in food labeling and production.

“We want the dyes out of the food,” Kennedy told Fox News earlier this month. The White House / Wikimedia

California and West Virginia Lead State-Level Dye Bans

States are also stepping in. California has already enacted bans on some food dyes in school settings. West Virginia recently passed legislation banning seven artificial food dyes and two preservatives, which will be phased out from food products sold in the state in the coming years. Skoot13 / Wikimedia

FDA Withdrew Approval of Red Dye No. 3 Following Public Pressure

The trend has gained bipartisan momentum. In January, under the Biden administration, the FDA rescinded approval for Red Dye No. 3 following advocacy from consumer groups. The White House / Wikimedia