Ice cream makers to drop artificial colors by 2028

A sweeping change is coming to America’s frozen dessert aisle. More than 90% of U.S. ice cream manufacturers, representing the lion’s share of retail sales, will eliminate artificial food dyes from their products by 2028, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).

The initiative, announced this week, is a voluntary commitment by 40 ice cream companies to phase out seven widely used synthetic dyes: Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. The policy will apply only to traditional dairy-based ice cream and will not include non-dairy products.

The IDFA is scheduled to officially launch the campaign at a U.S. Department of Agriculture event, where it will appear alongside key federal officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Kennedy has previously spoken out against synthetic dyes, citing potential links to rising ADHD rates and cancer risk. While some health professionals agree the concern warrants further research, others have called the evidence inconclusive. Nevertheless, states like West Virginia have taken legislative steps to restrict or ban certain food dyes, and other states are weighing similar actions, particularly in school meal programs.

The ice cream industry’s announcement follows a broader shift across the food sector. Cereal and candy makers have already started removing artificial dyes from popular products, driven by both consumer demand and regulatory signals.

Though the IDFA maintains that existing dyes are approved as safe by the Food and Drug Administration, it acknowledged that eliminating them will help ice cream brands stay ahead of potential policy changes and build greater trust with health-conscious shoppers.

“This move reflects our commitment to meeting evolving consumer preferences,” the IDFA said in a statement, calling the effort both proactive and precautionary.