MENG Advances Accountability Measure on Toxic FOOD DYES

May 20, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng’s (D-NY) bipartisan provision holding the Food and Drug Administration accountable for phasing out toxic petroleum-based food dyes passed the House Appropriations Committee as part of the FY 2027 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The amendment requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to report to Congress on any action taken by the agency to phase out or assist states in phasing out food dyes, including: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, and Citrus Red 2. Republican Chairman Andy Harris supported the measure and thanked Congresswoman Meng for bringing this issue to the attention of the committee. Speaking before the Appropriations Committee , the Congresswoman said, “Last year, HHS Secretary Kennedy announced he and the FDA would work together to phase out petroleum-based dyes from our food supply, which I think is a good idea. That’s why I introduced my Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act, which would codify a ban on those dyes…Even other countries have banned these dyes or placed stricter requirements on their use than we do…. The UK has totally banned Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Concerningly, FDA and HHS have been pulling back from their commitments...My amendment would simply request a report on the steps the Food and Drug Administration has taken to phase out the exact same dyes it already committed to phasing out. It’s the same list.” Meng, a member of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus, has long supported efforts to end the use of petroleum-based, synthetic food dyes. She introduced her Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act , H.R. 5027, in August 2025, which would remove harmful dyes that have no place in our food. The bill was introduced following action by at least 21 states seeking to address food dyes and chemicals of concern, and the announcement of a voluntary measure by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply. However, the Administration’s voluntary initiative fails to enforce the phaseout and fails to ban other harmful food additives, such as Titanium Dioxide. Titanium Dioxide has been scientifically demonstrated to be harmful to human health. The Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act continues that momentum and also includes a statutory ban on Red Dye 3, which was previously banned through regulation, but not through law. She is also an original sponsor of The Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025 , which would require the Federal Government to conduct regular studies on chemical additives in food to verify their safety. Congresswoman Meng is a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for funding the federal government's agencies, programs and activities. A copy of the amendment can be viewed here .