Popular Foods Banned in Montana Due to Health Concerns

New federal dietary guidelines and state laws are forcing food companies to remove an artificial coloring from their products.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:31am

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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 (MAHA). 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 from shelves is due to the artificial coloring Red Dye #3, which has been banned in Europe for years and is now being phased out nationwide by 2027 after California passed a law banning it in 2023.

Why it matters

The changes to food ingredients are driven by evolving scientific understanding about the potential health impacts of certain additives like Red Dye #3. As states and the federal government take action, consumers will see familiar products disappear from grocery store shelves, reflecting an effort to improve public health through more stringent food regulations.

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. As a result, some popular products may look different or disappear entirely the next time shoppers head to the store.

  • In 2023, California passed a law banning Red Dye #3, giving companies until January 1, 2027 to remove it from their products.
  • On January 29, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans as part of the MAHA initiative.
  • The FDA announced it will 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 the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) initiative.

California

The state that passed a law in 2023 banning Red Dye #3, giving companies until January 1, 2027 to remove it from their products.

FDA

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

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What’s next

Companies have until January 15, 2027 to remove Red Dye #3 from their products nationwide, following the FDA's announcement to revoke approval for the artificial coloring.

The takeaway

The changes to food ingredients reflect an evolving scientific understanding of potential health impacts, leading states and the federal government to take action through new regulations. Consumers can expect to see familiar products disappear from store shelves as companies work to comply with the new guidelines.