Ice cream lovers, get ready for a change in your favorite frozen treat! The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced a groundbreaking commitment from dozens of U.S. ice cream brands to remove artificial food dyes from their products. This move, which aims to eliminate dyes like Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 by 2028, is part of a larger trend in the food industry towards more natural ingredients.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, praised the IDFA for taking this proactive step towards providing consumers with real food free from synthetic chemicals. This commitment, which represents over 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the United States, includes popular brands that have pledged to discontinue the use of several artificial dyes in their ice creams and frozen dairy desserts.
Michael Dykes, the president and CEO of the IDFA, expressed pride in the ice cream makers and dairy companies for making this voluntary commitment to provide wholesome and indulgent products made with real milk from American dairy farmers. This commitment reflects a shared goal of promoting healthier choices and ensuring that ice cream remains a special part of our lives as food industry practices evolve.
Andy Jacobs, chair of the IDFA Ice Cream Segment Board and CEO of Turkey Hill Dairy, highlighted the industry-wide effort involved in this commitment, which includes a diverse range of companies coming together to make meaningful changes. While the full list of companies involved has not been disclosed, the IDFA’s announcement aligns with similar commitments from major companies like Kraft Heinz and General Mills.
General Mills and Kraft Heinz have also announced plans to remove synthetic food dyes from their U.S. product lines by 2027. General Mills aims to eliminate dyes from all cereals and K–12 school foods by the summer of 2026, while Kraft Heinz will phase out artificial colors from all its products by the end of 2027. Additionally, the FDA has recently approved four new natural food colorings, providing ice cream makers with more options for replacing artificial dyes.
Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, emphasized that this commitment from ice cream brands signals a new chapter in the way food is made and marketed in America. By taking proactive steps to remove artificial dyes, companies are demonstrating a commitment to consumer trust and safety, as well as a shared mission to promote healthier food choices. This shift towards natural ingredients reflects evolving consumer values and a collective effort to “Make America Healthy Again.”
