Ice Cream Brands Commit to Ditching Artificial Colors

Big changes are coming to your favorite ice cream brands. Many companies that make ice cream in the U. S. have promised to stop using artificial dyes. They plan to do this by 2028. This move comes after pressure from health officials who worry about the effects of these dyes. About 40 ice cream makers are involved. They will remove seven different artificial colors from their products. These colors include Red 3, Red 40, and Yellow 5. Instead, they will use natural dyes made from fruits and plants. This includes a new blue dye made from gardenia fruit. Some health experts are happy about this change. They believe artificial dyes can cause problems like hyperactivity in children. However, other experts say this is not enough. They point out that ice cream still has a lot of sugar and fat, which are bigger health concerns. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says these dyes are safe. They also mention that most children do not have bad reactions to them. Still, the FDA is encouraging companies to speed up the removal of Red 3, a dye that has been linked to cancer in lab rats. Not everyone is convinced this change will happen. Some groups say companies might not follow through. They believe the government should make rules instead of relying on voluntary actions.