The FDA Just Approved a New Blue Food Dye. Is It an Allergen?

This yr, meals dyes are being put beneath a microscope. Following the US Meals and Drug Administration’s ban on Crimson Dye No. 3 in January, the administration has since authorized three pure meals dyes in its stead. Now, along with the FDA and Division of Well being and Human Providers asking meals producers to part out all petroleum-based artificial dyes from the US meals provide, the FDA is asking these firms to fast-track eliminating Crimson No. 3 earlier than the 2027 deadline. To assist this alongside, the administration simply authorized a brand new blue meals dye. Because the fourth coloration additive from pure sources authorized by the FDA this yr, gardenia (genipin) blue has been granted permission for use in varied meals. In response to the administration, this blue dye comes from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. It may be utilized in exhausting and gentle sweet, sports activities drinks, ready-to-drink teas, flavored or enhanced noncarbonated water, and fruit drinks and ades. “This expedited timeline underscored our severe intent to transition away from petroleum-based artificial dyes within the meals provide,” mentioned FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in a information launch. “Now, by increasing the palette of accessible colours derived from pure sources, meals producers have quite a lot of choices accessible that may make it simpler to finish their use of petroleum-based dyes.”Gardenia (genipin) blue joins the crimson algae-based galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and the white coloration calcium phosphate as 2025’s new and authorized pure meals coloration components.  Michelle Lee Pictures/Getty ImagesIs gardenia (genipin) blue an allergen?The FDA authorized the usage of gardenia (genipin) blue from a petition by the Gardenia Blue Curiosity Group. In response to the FDA’s order, gardenia (genipin) blue is a darkish purple or blue liquid constituted of the mature fruit of the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis plant with soy protein hydrolysate.Now, it’s possible you’ll be considering: Is not soy an allergen? In response to the GBIG, the soy protein allergens aren’t anticipated to be detected within the closing coloration additive as a result of “unreacted protein hydrolysate is eliminated throughout manufacturing.”As a result of no soy protein allergens can be within the closing product, the GBIG is asking to be exempt from meals allergen labeling. The FDA is presently reviewing this petition.