FDA approves natural food dye beetroot red, expands the use of spirulina [View all]
Source: CNN Health
Updated Feb 5, 2026, 1:06 PM ET
PUBLISHED Feb 5, 2026, 10:06 AM ET
As part of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement’s efforts to replace artificial, petroleum-based food dyes with natural ones, the US Food and Drug Administration says it has approved the use of beetroot red and expanded the use of spirulina extract. The number of natural colors approved during the current administration is now six, the agency said Thursday.
Beetroot red is a reddish-purple liquid or powder. Spirulina extract — a blue-green powder or liquid from the algae plant Arthrospira platensis, which is found in oceans and salty lakes — is already approved for use in many food and beverage products. They include candy, chewing gum, frosting, some dairy products, cereals, condiments and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
The latest FDA action allows the ingredient to be used in other human foods more generally, except for infant formula and certain foods subject to inspection by the US Department of Agriculture.
The FDA also announced that products with natural dyes can now be labeled “no artificial colors” so customers can more easily differentiate between synthetically and naturally dyed foods. Before, companies generally could only make such claims if their products had no added dyes whatsoever.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/health/natural-food-dyes-approved-beetroot-spirulina-wellness
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