by Mila McManus, MD
Pressure from all sides is finally resulting in positive changes to the nutritional landscape at both state and national levels. Pressure from consumer advocates and boycotts have delivered a strong message to Big Food about the harmful ingredients in packaged foods. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applied some pressure by opening an investigation last month as to whether General Mills’ claims that its brightly colored cereals, including Trix and Lucky Charms, are ‘healthy’ or a ‘good source’ of vitamins and minerals. Texas and several other states have passed legislation to improve nutrition education and food labeling, which puts pressure on the national government and the Food Industry. And finally, thanks to Health and Human Services [HHS] Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Make America Healthy Again platform has also added significant pressure.
On June 17, 2025, Kraft Heinz and General Mills announced that they will phase out FD&C artificial dyes in their products by the end of 2027. General Mills promised to prioritize their cereals sold in K-12 schools to an earlier summer of 2026. The petroleum-based, synthetic dyes in the US food supply include Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Blue 1 and 2, and Green 3. Here is a LINK to explain natural and artificial dyes and the health concerns they pose. By the end of 2026, the authorization for the little-used dyes Citrus Red #2 and Orange B will be revoked.
Kraft Heinz products that still contain FD&C colors include Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, Mio, Jell-O, and Jet-Puffed. The company states that it is allocating significant resources and mobilizing a team to address this complex challenge. Options include removing colors not critical to the consumer experience, replacing FD&C colors with natural alternatives, or reinventing new colors and shades where matching natural replacements are not available. From our perspective, the third option raises additional concerns that reinventing new colors and shades may introduce other harmful additives to processed foods, unbeknownst to the consumer, while complying with the promise to remove FD&C colors.
Meanwhile, in June of this year, our local Texas State Legislature passed SB 25, which promotes health and nutrition standards, marking another sign of shifting views regarding the state’s nutrition condition. Several aspects of this bill are very promising. It requires our schools, from prekindergarten through higher education, to implement nutrition and physical activity curricula. It mandates daily physical activity for students and requires nutrition instruction. High schools must offer an elective nutrition and wellness course, and institutions of higher learning must also provide opportunities for nutrition education. The bill also introduces stringent food labeling requirements, compelling manufacturers to warn consumers about certain food additives and ingredients that are not recommended for consumption in other countries. Food manufacturers will be required to label products containing specific ingredients with potential civil penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the legislation requires various healthcare professionals, including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare providers, to receive continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health that will be required for license renewal.
It gives me hope to see pressure mounting to correct our national health and nutrition crisis. These recent shifts toward improving the nutritional landscape in the US and holding Big Food accountable for protecting our health should give us all hope.
Be an advocate. Use your voice. Help the movement. Be well.
References:
https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1839678