Robert F. Kennedy makes efforts to make America healthy again by banning food dyes

infographic by Kitty Lubben

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) moves forward with efforts to make America healthy again. Being the nation's head Secretary of Health and Human Services for almost a year, by the end of  2026, RFK Jr. and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to ban all petroleum-based food dyes according to the FDA. (FDA, 2025). TKA students will see a change of ingredients in some of their favorite snacks by 2026. 

 “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development. That era is coming to an end. We are restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public’s trust. And we’re doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day,” said RFK Jr. said during the campaign in 2023 to phase out chemical dyes in America. 

Through research performed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) during 2021, it was found that petroleum-based food dyes can cause behavioral and developmental issues and even neurological problems in children according to research performed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) during 2021.

Bethany Nixon, The King’s Academy’s school nurse, agrees that food dyes should be replaced as soon as possible and should not be consumed by anybody, especially children. 

“Many of the food dye additives they put into processed foods trigger immune responses in our bodies that create inflammation and histamine release,” said Nixon. . “This affects our nervous system and brain function negatively. This is one way that these petroleum-based dyes are in turn causing hyperactivity, mood, and cognitive change in Americans, specifically children who are at a disadvantage whilst still learning how to regulate their reactions, impulses and emotions.,” said Nixon.  

During a press conference in April of 2025, RFK Jr. revealed he hopes to remove corn syrup, which is used to sweeten foods in many well-known snacks, with cane sugar due to the health risks and rising obesity rates in America. 

“I think our bodies process this [cane] sugar a bit more effectively than highly processed, high fructose corn syrup that is currently used in many sodas and shelf stable drinks,” said Nixon., “but I do believe a return to eating whole foods closer to their most natural state rather than processed, shelf stable foods would be a great approach [for students].”

With many harmful foods easily available, students may reach for these snacks without thinking twice. 

“The processed food companies that so often use these dyes are targeting children as consumers,” said Nixon., “If we think through the food and snack items that contain dyes, these are the top items that are marketed to children; candies, cereals, colored drinks such as soda or Gatorade and more.”

Without having to worry about the harmful effects of food dyes, students will be able to enjoy food knowing exactly what they are putting into their bodies.