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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called on major food companies to remove harmful artificial dyes from their products before he leaves office.

In a recent meeting with executives from Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and other leading food brands, Kennedy made it clear that removing harmful ingredients was a top priority. He urged the food industry to act quickly or face government intervention.

"Kennedy expects 'real and transformative' change by 'getting the worst ingredients out' of food," according to a memo sent to members of the Consumer Brands Association (CBA), which represents food manufacturers.

This request comes amid growing concerns over synthetic dyes in food, many of which have been linked to health risks such as cancer and hyperactivity in children.

For years, health experts have argued that artificial dyes add no nutritional value but make unhealthy foods more appealing.

With dyes like Red No. 3 linked to cancer, Kennedy is pushing for their removal from the American food supply. "It's my priority that these dyes are removed from food before I leave office," he stated during the meeting, according to the CBA memo.

According to Fortune, the meeting comes after a sustained campaign against artificial dyes led by food activist Vani Hari, along with other health advocates.

In addition to his efforts on food dyes, Kennedy is also pushing for changes to the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule, which allows food manufacturers to self-certify the safety of ingredients.

Critics say this rule has allowed potentially harmful substances to enter the food supply without proper oversight.

Kennedy Targets GRAS Loophole, Calls for Increased Food Transparency

This move to address the GRAS rule follows reports that nearly 99% of new chemicals used in food since 2000 were approved by the food industry, not the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CNN said.

Kennedy has expressed his commitment to eliminating this loophole, calling it a way to ensure greater transparency and protect consumers from potentially harmful ingredients.

The pressure for change is mounting. Health officials are already taking action to ban Red No. 3 by 2027, and other artificial dyes may soon face similar scrutiny.

Major companies like Kraft Heinz have already started removing synthetic colors from some products, such as its iconic macaroni and cheese.

However, Kennedy's push for faster reforms highlights the growing urgency for companies to adopt healthier practices.

While there is broad support for Kennedy's reforms, experts caution that significant challenges remain.

The powerful food industry lobby may resist changes, and experts say it will be difficult to fully implement these changes without sufficient funding and resources.

Despite these hurdles, Kennedy's mission to promote transparency and health in the food industry is gaining traction and could lead to meaningful reforms in the coming years.

"Consumers should be able to exercise informed choice," Kennedy said, stressing the need for transparency in food labeling and ingredients. "We need to strengthen consumer trust by getting toxins out of our food."