The Food and Drug Administration moved to strip two long-standing petroleum-based color additives from the American food supply on Wednesday, finalizing the revocation of Orange B and proposing to revoke Citrus Red No. 2. The agency said both additives have been abandoned by industry and their continued authorization is no longer warranted.
Citrus Red No. 2 has been authorized since 1959 for coloring the skins of mature oranges. The FDA proposed revoking the regulation after tentatively concluding that industry has stopped using the dye. Orange B, which was authorized for use in certain food products, is being formally revoked after the agency reviewed public comments on a prior proposed action and found no information to change its conclusion that the additive’s use has been abandoned.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the actions represent the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthening food safety, calling the move part of a broader effort to modernize regulations and eliminate outdated authorizations for petroleum-based color additives. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said the agency is working to ensure its regulations remain aligned with current manufacturing practices and the agency’s public health mission.
The FDA is accepting public comments on the proposed revocation of Citrus Red No. 2 for 30 days, with all submissions due by August 24, 2026. Comments can be filed electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal under docket FDA-2026-N-6304 or by mail to the FDA’s Dockets Management Staff at 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. After reviewing comments, the agency will determine whether to finalize the revocation.
The actions are part of a broader administration push to phase out petroleum-based dyes from the U.S. food supply. The FDA said it continues to track voluntary industry commitments to remove such additives through its Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum-Based Food Dyes webpage, which summarizes pledges from manufacturers, retailers, and trade associations as companies transition to alternative color sources.
Source: FDA Press Release
