FDA Loosens Rules on 'No Artificial Colors' Food Labeling

The agency will now allow natural dyes to be used in foods labeled 'no artificial colors.'

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The FDA announced it is changing its enforcement of regulations around food-dye claims on product labels. Manufacturers will now have more flexibility to claim 'no artificial colors' on foods that use natural dyes derived from sources like vegetables, minerals, or animals, as long as they don't contain certain synthetic additives.

Why it matters

The change means consumers will need to read labels more closely to determine if a product's colors come from natural or synthetic sources, even if it claims 'no artificial colors.' While natural dyes are generally considered safer than synthetic ones, experts say all food dyes, whether natural or artificial, must be rigorously evaluated for safety.

The details

Until now, food labels could only claim 'no artificial colors' if the item's color came solely from the food itself. The new enforcement change means 'color-altering materials' can be added to foods, and those foods can still have a 'no artificial colors' label, as long as they use dyes not listed in the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Dyes derived from natural sources, like vegetables, minerals, or animals, are considered exempt from certification and can now be used in products labeled 'no artificial colors.'

  • The FDA announced the enforcement change last week.

The players

Brendan Niemira

The chief science and technology officer at the nonprofit Institute of Food Technologists.

Joe Zagorski

A toxicologist and an assistant professor at the Center for Research on Ingredient Safety at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for regulating food and drug safety.

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What they’re saying

“Long-standing practice has been to require labeling when anything was added to a food to enhance or change its color, no matter the origin of that coloring material. The FDA will now change how they enforce that requirement.”

— Brendan Niemira, Chief Science and Technology Officer (everydayhealth.com)

“Everything can be safe or toxic in the right amount; this is true for human-made or natural chemicals.”

— Joe Zagorski, Toxicologist and Assistant Professor (everydayhealth.com)

What’s next

The FDA did not specify when the new enforcement practice will take effect.

The takeaway

While the FDA's change allows more natural food dyes to be used in 'no artificial colors' labeled products, consumers will need to closely read ingredient lists to determine if a product's colors come from natural or synthetic sources, as both types of dyes must meet safety standards.