Food dyes are a hot topic on social media and in the news this year, as policymakers consider bans on some dyes at the national and state level. Proponents of these bans say food dyes cause health problems including cancer, behavioral and developmental issues, and obesity.
As a result, you may be wondering whether the foods and drinks your family consumes are safe. Food dyes are in a variety of products, including sports drinks, flavored yogurts and ice cream, baked goods, breakfast cereals, candy and salad dressings—to name just a few.
But when it comes to eating for better health, food dye isn’t the major concern, says UNC nutrition epidemiologist Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD.
“Foods with dye are not healthy or unhealthy solely because of the dye,” she says. “There is not strong evidence on the impact of food dyes on health, but foods with dye tend to be in categories of food that are unhealthy. The idea that food dye is a poison doesn’t reflect the science.”
Dr. Taillie helps us go beyond the headlines to understand this controversial ingredient.
Do food dyes have any nutritional value? Are some better than others?
Color can be added to food with an additive that’s considered “natural” because it’s extracted from plants, minerals or insects (yes, cochineal bugs are used to make a red dye) or one that’s considered synthetic, or artificial.
There are nine synthetic dyes approved for use by the FDA—Blue Nos. 1 and 2; Green No. 3; Orange B; Red Nos. 2, 3 (this one will be phased out in the next few years) and 40; and Yellow Nos. 5 and 6. These synthetic dyes, which use chemicals derived from petroleum, are the ones subject to recent bans and proposed removals.
Additives are used to make foods more eye-catching and appealing.
“It’s part of marketing, added to make foods bright and make us want to eat more of them,” Dr. Taillie says. “They’re more common in sweet foods marketed to kids.”
Whether natural or synthetic, adding color has no nutritional impact on the food.
“There is no nutritional benefit to dye, so nutritionists won’t be sad to see it go,” Dr. Taillie says.
It’s important to note that just because a coloring is natural doesn’t mean it’s better than a synthetic one. A color additive derived from a vegetable such as dehydrated beets does not add any of the nutritional benefits of that vegetable to the food and is not necessarily better than a synthetic product. Just because something claims “natural” ingredients doesn’t mean it’s healthy, Dr. Taillie says.
Is there a link between food dyes and cancer?
In January 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked authorization for the use of Red No. 3, giving food manufacturers until 2027 and drug manufacturers until 2028 to change their products. The FDA had previously banned use of this red dye in cosmetics.
The FDA’s ban is based on a regulation that requires that ingredients that cause cancer in animals to be removed from food, and two small studies showed the dye can cause cancer in rats. However, in announcing the change, the FDA noted that the way Red No. 3 causes cancer in rats is not applicable to humans, as the dye affected a rat-specific hormone.
The rats were also given higher amounts of the dye than what is found in food, so it’s difficult to compare the dose they received to the amount that a typical person might consume.
“There are very few studies on the link between food dyes and cancer in humans,” Dr. Taillie says.
Is there a link between food dyes and ADHD?
Because food dyes are common in products marketed to children, scientists have considered the link between food dyes and developmental and behavioral issues in children.
While researchers have not found that food dyes can cause conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is evidence, based on more than two dozen clinical trials, that synthetic food dyes may exacerbate symptoms associated with ADHD, such as hyperactivity or problems paying attention, in some children.
“There are a small set of studies suggesting an association between dye and more adverse attention and behavioral outcomes in kids,” Dr. Taillie says. “But this issue is framed as if we can eradicate ADHD if we get rid of food dyes, and that’s not true.”
The FDA has previously noted that some children may be more “sensitive” to food dye. If you notice symptoms in your child after they eat or drink something with dye, talk to their doctor, but note that the product may also contain other ingredients that could lead to hyperactivity, such as sugar.
Will foods without dyes be healthier?
Junk food without synthetic food dye is still junk food.
“Substituting artificial food dyes with natural dyes does not mean a food is healthy,” Dr. Taillie says. “Snack foods with natural dyes still have sugar, sodium and fat. They will still be marketed to kids and overconsumed.”
And while there isn’t much scientific evidence about the negative health effects of food dyes, there is robust evidence about the types of foods that use these dyes.
“We have rigorous trials that show the causal link between ultraprocessed food and weight gain, and we know weight gain leads to adverse health outcomes,” Dr. Taillie says. “Ultraprocessed foods are formed in factories with a wide range of chemical additives, sweeteners and emulsifiers. They’re engineered to be overconsumed.”
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and kidney disease.
“There’s an overemphasis on this one ingredient, and while it’s nice to think that if we just get rid of food dye, we’ll be healthier, that’s not the case,” Dr. Taillie says. “You shouldn’t worry about your safety with food dye, but we do know what to eat to avoid chronic disease—fruits and vegetables, dairy, whole grains.”
If you have questions about your family’s diet, talk to your doctor or find one near you.