Dozens of Ice Cream Brands Pledge to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes

Your carton of ice cream might look a little different soon. On Monday, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced that dozens of brands have committed to eliminating artificial food dyes from their ice creams. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, says this is part of a “voluntary, proactive” pledge to make sure the dyes are gone by 2028. 

“I applaud the International Dairy Foods Association for stepping up to eliminate certified artificial colors,” Kennedy shared in a statement. “The American people have made it clear — they want real food, not chemicals. Together with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, we’re holding the food industry accountable and driving a nationwide effort to Make America Healthy Again.” 

The announcement by the IDFA stated that the commitment “represents dozens of companies making more than 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the United States,” adding that the brands plan to discontinue their use of Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 in both ice cream and frozen dairy desserts.

“I am proud of ice cream makers and dairy foods companies for stepping up for American families by making this voluntary commitment to provide ice cream and frozen dairy treats without certified artificial colors,” Michael Dykes, the president and CEO of the IDFA, added. “Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve.”

Andy Jacobs, chair of the IDFA Ice Cream Segment Board and CEO of Turkey Hill Dairy, noted in an additional statement that the commitment includes everyone “from small independent companies to family-owned businesses going back generations, to large multi-national companies” who “have all come together in a true industry-wide effort to make these changes.” (The IDFA has not yet identified the full list of companies that have joined the commitment.)

The IDFA isn’t the only major industry group to announce such a change. As Food & Wine previously reported, Kraft Heinz and General Mills also revealed plans to remove synthetic food dyes from their U.S. product lines. 

General Mills stated that it would remove dyes from all cereals and K–12 school foods by the summer of 2026, though it added that 85% of its products are already dye-free and will eliminate dyes from all its products by 2027. Kraft Heinz announced that it will not introduce any new U.S. products with Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) dyes and will eliminate all remaining artificial colors by the end of 2027.

The companies will also have plenty of new natural dyes to play with, as the FDA has approved four new food colorings in the last two months. In May, it announced the approval of galdieria extract (a blue coloring), butterfly pea flower extract (a blue coloring), and calcium phosphate (a white coloring), and also approved Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition. Just this week, it approved gardenia (genipin), one more blue coloring. 

As for the ice cream news, Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, said that it “signals a new chapter in the way food is made and marketed in America.” Diamantas added, “When companies take initiative without waiting for regulation, it shows a deep respect for consumer trust and safety. Eliminating artificial dyes is more than a formulation change; it’s a reflection of evolving values and our shared mission to Make America Healthy Again.”