facebooktwitterlinkedin
Health Resources Hub / Heart Health / Hypertension

FDA Seeks New Standards, Healthier America with Recent Initiatives

The FDA is introducing new food labeling and additive regulations, including front-of-package nutrition labels and a ban on Red Dye No. 3, to promote healthier consumer choices.

By

Lana Pine

 |  Published on January 22, 2025

4 min read

FDA Seeks New Standards, Healthier America with Recent Initiatives

Credit: Adobe Stock/Konstantin Yuganov

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking bold steps to remodel how consumers interact with food labels and additives, aiming to make nutrition information clearer and food choices healthier. Two recent initiatives — the proposal for front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels and the decision to ban Red Dye No. 3 — are at the forefront of this plan. While the FOP labeling system seeks to emphasize key nutrients linked to chronic disease (currently affecting six in 10 Americans), the Red Dye No. 3 ban has prompted debate regarding a lack of scientific evidence.

Clearer Labels for Better Choices

The goal of the FDA’s proposed front-of-package nutrition label is to provide consumers with an easy-to-read indicator of three key nutrients: saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. According to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., “It is time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go.”

The label will use a simple “Low,” “Medium” or “High” format to help consumers quickly assess the healthfulness of packaged foods.

Registered dietitian Jennifer Bianchini, MS, RDN, told The Educated Patient that populations managing chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol could significantly benefit from this proposed labeling system, as well as underserved communities with limited access to nutrition education and healthcare resources.

However, while this system could help consumers make more informed decisions, it may also oversimplify nutrition:

“Other important factors, like fiber content and overall nutrient quality, should also be considered. The best approach is still prioritizing whole, minimally processed foods.”

With 60% of U.S. adults living with at least one chronic disease, many experts believe this labeling initiative could be a step toward improving public health. Bianchini underscored that Americans regularly exceed recommended limits for these nutrients:

  • 77% exceed dietary recommendations for saturated fat.
  • 63% exceed recommendations for added sugars.
  • 90% consume too much sodium.

FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones emphasized, “Food should be a vehicle for wellness, not a contributor of chronic disease.”

FD&C Red Dye No. 3 Ban: Essential Protection or Regulatory Overreach?

In a move welcomed by some and questioned by others, the FDA has also announced plans to ban FD&C Red No. 3 from foods and ingested drugs. The dye, which is commonly found in candies, frostings, baked goods and some medications, was first flagged as a potential carcinogen in a 1981 study on rats that led to its ban in cosmetics. However, some experts argue that human data do not support the ban.

In an interview with The Educated Patient, Jeffrey A. Singer, M.D., senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said the following:

“There have been no studies linking Red Dye No. 3 to human tumors. The last major study involved rats being fed massive doses, far beyond what any human would consume.”

Singer also cautioned that these kinds of bans could set a standard for removing other artificial ingredients without robust human-based evidence, potentially increasing food costs and restricting consumer choice. However, the FDA points to the Delaney Clause, a 1958 law that prevents approval of any food additive shown to cause cancer in animals or humans, as the reasoning behind its decision.

Companies that use this additive have until January 2027 to reformulate food products and January 2028 for medications.

What’s Next?

Both actions from the FDA highlight a growing effort to improve public health through food policy. While the front-of-package label could help consumers make smarter choices at a glance, the Red Dye No. 3 ban raises larger questions about scientific standards in regulating food. As these changes roll out, consumers and manufacturers alike will have to adjust to evolving food safety and labeling requirements.