That’s about to change. By order of Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., dyes will likely be removed from food by the end of next year. We’re talking about petroleum-based dyes that are blue, green, yellow and red.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated that the agency has several actions planned to phase out the use of synthetic dyes. It will work with companies to voluntarily eliminate six commonly used dyes by the end of next year: FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1 and FD&C Blue No. 2.

Kennedy's plan to eliminate the dyes needs the food companies to go along — he doesn't appear to have an enforcement mechanism in place.