Big food companies haven't signed on to RFK bid to cut food dyes

• "The industry has voluntarily agreed" to do so, Kennedy said, according to NPR.
• An HHS official told Axios the food companies the agency is working with are "eager to engage in discussions about phasing out these dyes to promote a healthier America."

The big picture: None of the industry's largest food companies — including Mars, General Mills, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo — confirmed they've signed on when contacted by Axios on Wednesday.

• In fact, there's no agreement among food makers in the U.S., according to one food industry official familiar with the talks.
• Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocated for removing the synthetic dyes, also said the announcement had been mischaracterized as a sweeping ban: "History tells us that relying on voluntary food industry compliance has all-too-often proven to be a fool's errand," he said in a statement.

Between the lines: Several major food makers sent cooperative signals but stopped short of endorsing a ban.

• General Mills — whose cereal brands include Lucky Charms and Trix — "strongly" supports "a national, industry-wide standard, and we're committed to continuing the conversation with the administration," company spokesperson Mollie Wulff said in a statement. She said "the vast majority of General Mills' products are already free from certified colors."
• Candymaker Mars — whose products include Skittles and M&Ms — referred Axios to the National Confectioners Association. The association's senior VP for public affairs and communications, Christopher Gindlesperger, said in a statement that "science-based evaluation of food additives will help eliminate consumer confusion and rebuild trust in our national food safety system."
• PepsiCo — whose brands include Cheetos and Doritos — and Kraft Heinz did not respond to requests for comment.

Inside the room: "The Consumer Brands Association, which represents food and beverage companies, had previously proposed that manufacturers voluntarily begin phasing out synthetic dyes," Bloomberg reported, citing a CBA memo sent to HHS after a March meeting.

• "That document suggested offering synthetic dye-free foods in schools and submitting a petition asking the FDA to revoke regulations for use of synthetic food dyes by the end of 2025," according to Bloomberg.
• The group also proposed the Trump administration deliver tariff exemptions in return.

The big question: Even if food companies comply with RFK's push to ban food dyes, will it make a health impact?

• "Synthetic food dyes serve no function in foods so the sentiment is why not ban in the event these could impact some children's behavior? I am sympathetic to that," said Susan Mayne, a professor at Yale School of Public Health and former FDA official.
• But there could be "unintended consequences," including that reformulation could lead to a "public health loss rather than a gain" by detracting from efforts to reduce sodium or meet the FDA's healthy criteria and could also increase food costs, Mayne added.

Some food makers and restaurants are already voicing opposition, including small business owners like Mary Lovett of Denver-based Maggie and Molly's Baker, which uses artificial dyes in cakes.

• "I've had some people ask for more natural options," Lovett told CBS Colorado, "but my hesitation has always been the flavor. I've worked years to create these flavors."

Advocates of a ban, like RFK, say it's time for the nation to recognize that food dyes are "unnecessary and harmful," Lurie says.

• But experts warn phasing out the dyes without robust evidence that they're harmful could set a worrying precedent for food regulation that's not backed up by science.

The bottom line: Food dyes are sticking around for the foreseeable future.

Go deeper: RFK Jr.'s push to remove artificial food dyes could face industry opposition