Tyson Foods expects to end use of petroleum-based dyes by end of month

Tyson Foods is working to remove petroleum-based dyes in its products before the end of the month in response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration push to eliminate all such dyes from the nation’s food supply.

Donnie King, president and chief executive officer, made the announcement during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on May 5.

“We have been actively reformulating those few products that do (contain the dyes),” he said. “We expect that our work to eliminate use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in production will be completed by the end of May.”

The FDA time frame for removing the dyes is set for the end of 2026, which King said the company will beat by removing them by the end of the month.

Marty Makary, the administration’s commissioner, said they are asking food companies to substitute for petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients as is the practice in Europe and Canada.

“Given the growing concerns of doctors and parents about the potential role of petroleum-based food dyes, we should not be taking risks and do everything possible to safeguard the health of our children,” Makary said.

King made it clear that none of the product types and foods the company offers through school nutrition programs include petroleum-based synthetic dyes.

The majority of retail products like Tyson’s Dino and chicken nuggets, chicken bites and Jimmy Dean maple grill cakes do not contain the dyes.

The dyes the administration is seeking to eliminate include FD&C Green No.3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No.6, FD&C Blue No. 1 and FD&C Blue No.2.

The dyes listed have been linked to neurobehavioral problems in children, according to a California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

As part of the shift, the FDA is approving natural alternatives for food companies to use. On May 9, the administration granted three new color additive petitions for manufacturers to use in food.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been a staunch advocate for removing the synthetic dyes from the food chain.

“These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development,” he said in April. “And we’re … working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day.”

Kennedy also commented on Tyson’s decision to remove the use of petroleum-based dyes in a post on his X account.

“I look forward to seeing more companies follow suit and put the health of Americans first,” he wrote on May 5.