US FDA Takes Further Steps to Remove Petroleum-Based Food Dyes: Orange B Revoked, Citrus Red No. 2 Proposed

The FDA is issuing a final order revoking the authorized use of Orange Bas a color additive in food and is proposing to revoke the authorized use of Citrus Red No.2 as a color additive in food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced two significant regulatory actions concerning petroleum-based food color additives:

• FDA has issued a Final Order revoking the authorization for Orange B as a food color additive.
• FDA has also published a Proposed Rule to revoke the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 as a food color additive.

The proposal is open for a 30-day public comment period, with comments due by August 24, 2026.

According to FDA, the proposed revocation of Citrus Red No. 2 is based on the agency’s preliminary determination that the color additive has been abandoned by the food industry. Citrus Red No. 2 has been authorized since 1959 for use in coloring the peels of mature oranges.

FDA stated that it will continue to monitor the food industry’s transition to alternative coloring sources and ensure that regulatory requirements remain aligned with current manufacturing practices and public health objectives. FDA is now working closely with food manufacturers and industry associations to phase out six widely used notified synthetic color additives from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2027: FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2. Earlier this year, FDA also revoked the authorization for FD&C Red No. 3, further advancing its efforts to reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetic food dyes.

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