RFK JR. It was heating food companies in the oath to get rid of the food of artificial dyes

During his first meeting with the most essential managers of Pepsico, WK Kellogg, General Mills and other enormous companies, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health, mercilessly told them that the highest priority would be to eliminate artificial dyes from national food supplies.

During the Monday meeting, Mr. Kennedy emphasized that it was a “mighty desire and urgent priority” of the fresh Trump administration to get rid of the food system of artificial colors.

In addition, he warned companies that they should predict a significant change as a result of his pursuit of “bringing out the worst ingredients” of food, in accordance with the letter of Consumer Brands Association, a commercial group. The Times analyzed a copy sent to the group members after the meeting.

And while Mr. Kennedy said at the meeting that he wanted to cooperate with the industry, “he also explained his intention to take action, unless the industry is ready to be proactive in terms of solutions,” wrote the association.

“But emphasizing the time of the decision is inevitable,” wrote in Melissa Hockstad, who participated in the meeting and is the president of the group.

Later on Monday, Mr. Kennedy published directive It would also affect food companies throughout the country. He ordered the Food and the Second Review of Multiannual Policy, which allowed companies – regardless of any regulatory review – to decide that the fresh food supply component is sheltered. The policy placed in decades was directed to ingredients such as vinegar or salt, which are widely considered to be well understood and gentle. But the designation, known as a game or “generally considered sheltered”, has since increased a much wider range of natural and synthetic additives.

Mr. Kennedy promised that he raised the food system as a way to solve the growing indicators of chronic diseases and other health problems before the establishment of the head of the Health Department and Human Services. Currently supervises the FDA, a federal regulatory body for about 80 percent of food supply in the country.

Many food companies involve artificial dyes, for example, so that they earn breakfast cereals and candies dazzling shades of pink and blue or neon orange drinks. Some have already tried to adapt natural ingredients, such as carrot or blueberry juice, for coloring, especially for products sold on international markets such as Canada. But the companies said that the demand of consumers weakened in the United States due to dissatisfaction with less attractive or vivid colors of snacks and drinks.

Steven Williams, the head of Pepsico in North America, participated in a meeting with Mr. Kennedy, but the company said he would not comment. In E -Mail, a Pepsico spokesman said that the company perceived the meeting as a “productive first step” and added that it focused on providing consumers with “more options with natural ingredients, without synthetic colors and reduction of sugar, fat and sodium.”

Stacy Flathau, the main officer of the corporate affairs of the WK Kellogg, said that the company is looking forward to cooperation with the fresh administration.

While the industry note expressed an alarm regarding the plan to remove synthetic colors, it did not apply to the additional proposal of Kennedy focused on some food components considered sheltered.

Proponents of food safety criticized the existing gras policy as a gap that allows food companies to introduce unverified ingredients, which in some cases proved to be dangerous. About 1000 ingredients considered sheltered were checked by the FDA, but Mr. Kennedy aimed at those that companies consider acceptable without government supervision.

“Eliminating this gap will ensure transparency to consumers, assist restore food supply in our country, ensuring that the ingredients introduced into food are sheltered, and ultimately make America hearty again,” Kennedy said in a statement.

Bills to remove synthetic colors from food supply have started since the prohibition of red Dye No. 3, the movement that followed the FDA. Other proposals of the state targeted titanium dioxide, the relationship used to make the food seem shiny. Texas and West Virginia moved to the colors of some school dinners.

In the letter of Mrs. Hockstad to food directors, she said that Kennedy wanted synthetic accessories for colors known as FD & C colors or dyes with food and cosmetics, removed during his administration.

Vani Hari, an activist known online as Food who did not participate in the meeting, applauded the readiness of Mr. Kennedy to take the food industry. “Bobby gave the food industry an ultimatum,” she said. “Either work with us to make these changes or we will do it ourselves.”

Mr. Kennedy was to meet with the members of Make America Health Again Again Commission on Tuesday.

Stuart Pape, a lawyer representing food companies, said that Kennedy’s plan was “ambitious”. He said that FDA traditionally proposed to remove one coloring at once, presenting the research why the ingredient was perilous. Whether there is an appropriate delivery of alternative dyes would be a fear of a wider plan.

“I think Kennedy did not hide, that he was going to follow the ingredients of food,” said Pape. “And I think this is the opening of this war.”

Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official and director of the Science Center in the public interest, a group of spokesman, said that effort may not have a significant impact on sedate chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

He said that cancer -related data was mainly at Red No. 3. In the ongoing times of administration, Biden FDA issued a ban on Red 3, which would come into force in the coming years. The red dye No. 3 was associated with some tumors in animals, but not in humans.

Despite this, he said that Mr. Kennedy’s movement could be effective, because dyes do little except that unhealthy food seemed more attractive. He said that despite the years spent on the fight to limit food dyes, food directors can join other business leaders who wanted Kowtow to the current administration.

“Given the fear of the anger of administration,” said Dr. Lurie, “they can simply see it in the interest to come to terms with it.”