February 11, 2026
Taste the rainbow... of semantics
FDA says companies can claim "no artificial colors" if they use natural dyes
FDA says 'no artificial colors' can be natural dyes — internet erupts over word games
TLDR: FDA will allow “no artificial colors” labels if dyes are natural, not petroleum, and approved beetroot red plus more spirulina. Commenters split: some say it’s common sense (turmeric rice!), others call it marketing wordplay and distrust FDA motives, joking about “radium water” while arguing safety is still murky.
The FDA just flipped the food-color script: brands can now slap “no artificial colors” on labels as long as dyes come from natural sources (not petroleum), even if those colors are added. The agency also greenlit beetroot red and expanded spirulina extract, touting progress in removing petroleum-based dyes and tracking pledges on a public dashboard. Cue the comments: the internet erupted into a definition brawl. Is “artificial” about how a color is made, or whether it’s added at all? And if natural dyes still require solvents and heavy processing, does this just dress up ultra-processed foods with a farm-to-table Instagram filter?
Humor flew first: one user offered “radium water” with “natural dyes” for maximum irony. Another pointed to turmeric rice—natural color, not deception—while skeptics fumed about “erosion of words” and FDA motives. Others called the safety hand-wringing “questionable.” Bottom line: colors are cosmetic, sales might dip without petroleum’s neon punch, and the community is split between “common-sense label” and “marketing word gymnastics.” Either way, your candy will still be ultra-processed—just naturally brighter. Fans cheered fewer kid behavior worries linked to petroleum dyes, while cynics asked for clearer rules and less spin. Read the HHS/FDA press release before you taste the “natural” rainbow.
Key Points
- •FDA will allow “no artificial colors” claims when products contain no petroleum-based color additives, even if natural color additives are used.
- •The agency issued an enforcement discretion letter to industry regarding these voluntary labeling claims.
- •FDA approved beetroot red and expanded the approved uses of spirulina extract; six new color options have been approved under the current administration.
- •Natural colors are derived from sources like vegetables, spices, or insects and require industrial extraction and stabilization processes.
- •Natural colors are not linked to behavioral issues in children but may carry safety uncertainties; added colors of any source indicate ultra-processing and serve cosmetic purposes.