Context:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary, is advocating for the removal of nine petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the American food supply within 18 months, citing their contribution to obesity and chronic illnesses. The U.S. food regulatory system allows companies to self-certify the safety of food additives under the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) pathway, leading to potentially unsafe chemicals being consumed without proper oversight. The FDA's current focus on immediate food safety threats overlooks the long-term health implications of consuming multiple additives, and does not regularly re-evaluate existing chemicals based on new scientific findings. Researchers are beginning to uncover complex interactions between additives and human health, suggesting that problems may arise from the cumulative effects of these chemicals rather than individual substances. Kennedy's initiative, though lacking concrete commitments from food companies, highlights the need for substantial government investment in research to understand the impact of food additives on chronic diseases and the overall health of Americans.

Dive Deeper:

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to eliminate nine synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply, linking them to rising obesity and chronic illnesses, despite his history of making unsubstantiated public health claims.

• The United States permits food companies to declare new chemicals as safe without FDA approval under the GRAS system, resulting in about 1,000 additives in the food supply that are unknown to regulators.

• Current FDA evaluations of food additives focus narrowly on cancer risks, missing out on the subtle, long-term health effects that multiple chemicals might collectively cause.

• Research by scientists at Rockefeller University shows that additives like aspartame can alter cellular structures, indicating potential health risks that are not currently considered by regulators.

• There is a call for the FDA to receive increased funding to investigate the chronic disease implications of food additives and for more comprehensive research on the food environment's impact on health.

• The initiative to replace synthetic dyes with natural alternatives is complicated by the lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of natural dyes, challenging assumptions that they are inherently safer.

• Kennedy's efforts underscore the inadequacy of informal agreements with the food industry and emphasize the necessity for a robust, science-based approach to addressing food safety and public health concerns.