Popular Foods Banned in Montana Due to Health Concerns

New federal dietary guidelines and state-level bans on certain food ingredients are changing what shoppers see in stores.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:39pm

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The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has released updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans as part of his push to Make America Healthy Again. Several states, including Montana, have been working for years to clean up the ingredients used in everyday foods. The main reason many products are being removed comes down to the artificial coloring Red Dye #3, which has been banned in Europe for years and is now facing a nationwide ban in the U.S. by 2027. As a result, some popular products may look different or disappear entirely from grocery store shelves.

Why it matters

The changes to food ingredients and products are part of a broader push by federal and state governments to improve public health by scrutinizing the safety of common food additives and colorings. This impacts what consumers can purchase, potentially leading to changes in shopping habits and consumer preferences.

The details

The FDA has announced it will revoke approval for Red Dye #3 in food by January 15, 2027. Rather than waiting until the last minute, several companies have already started removing the dye from their ingredient lists. This means some popular products may look different or disappear entirely from grocery store shelves in the coming years.

  • In 2023, California passed a law banning Red Dye #3, giving companies until January 1, 2027 to remove it from their products.
  • The FDA announced it would revoke approval for Red Dye #3 in food nationwide by January 15, 2027.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services who released updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans as part of his push to Make America Healthy Again.

FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has announced it will revoke approval for Red Dye #3 in food by January 15, 2027.

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The takeaway

The changes to food ingredients and products highlight the ongoing efforts by government agencies and states to scrutinize the safety of common food additives and colorings. Consumers can expect to see some familiar items disappear from grocery store shelves in the coming years as companies work to comply with new regulations.