By cutting dyes from your diet, you’re getting another important built-in benefit

In the crusade to reduce chronic disease and neurobehavioral issues in the United States, synthetic food dyes are a hot target.

California began paving the way for legislation against petroleum-based synthetic dyes a few years ago, based on health concerns including a potentially increased risk of cancer and neurobehavioral issues in children and animals. Gov. Gavin Newsom banned red dye No. 3 in 2023 and six other common dyes from school foods in 2024. Since then, 25 other states have followed in California’s footsteps with legislation — some signed into law, others still in progress — that would either ban, restrict or require labels for food dyes.