The FDA has finalized the removal of one food dye authorization from federal regulations and proposed removing another. Neither dye is currently used in the American food supply, which is precisely why the agency acted.
In a July 22 announcement, the agency issued a final order revoking the authorized use of Orange B and proposed revoking the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2. In both cases, the FDA concluded that industry had abandoned the use, making the regulations, in the agency's words, outdated and unnecessary.
The distinction between deleting a dormant authorization and banning a dye that people are actually eating is the whole story here, and it is easy to lose. Nothing is coming off a shelf as a result of these two actions.
Two Actions, Two Different Legal Statuses
The two dyes are at different stages of the same process, and conflating them would misstate the record.
Orange B is done, or nearly so. The final order published in the Federal Register on July 23 repeals the regulation that permitted Orange B for coloring the casings or surfaces of frankfurters and sausages. The order states the agency determined "the authorized use of Orange B has been abandoned." It takes effect September 8, 2026, under docket FDA-2025-C-3543. Objections and hearing requests are due August 24, and a proper objection can delay or stay provisions of the order.
Citrus Red No. 2 is only proposed. That dye was authorized for coloring the skins of mature oranges, and the FDA is taking public comment on revoking it through August 24, 2026, under docket FDA-2026-N-6304. After reviewing comments, the agency will decide whether to finalize.
Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas framed the actions as regulatory housekeeping, saying the agency is "removing unnecessary and obsolete authorizations" so that rules remain clear and current.
Neither Dye Is Actually in Circulation
Orange B was first approved in 1966 for a narrow use on hot dog and sausage casings. Its sole U.S. manufacturer stopped production decades ago, and the FDA has said no batches have been certified or requested in many years. Certified color additives must be batch-certified by the agency before use, which gives the FDA a direct record of whether anything is being made.
Citrus Red No. 2 has been authorized since 1959 for coloring orange skins, a practice used to improve the appearance of fruit that ripens while remaining green. That use has likewise been abandoned.
So a shopper reading about a dye revocation and checking labels will find nothing, because neither dye appears on labels. The absence is not evidence of a fast industry response. It is the reason the action was possible.
That does not make the actions meaningless. Regulations that authorize things nobody does create confusion, complicate international trade discussions, and clutter the code. Removing them is legitimate administrative work. It is simply not a change to what is in food.
The Colors Still in the Food Supply
The dyes that people actually consume are on a different and slower track.
Earlier in 2026, the FDA revoked the authorization for FD&C Red No. 3, which was in use. Separately, the agency is tracking voluntary industry commitments to phase out six certified colors that remain common in food: FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2, with a target of the end of 2027.
The word to hold onto there is voluntary. Commitments from manufacturers and trade associations are not the same as a regulation, and the FDA is monitoring rather than requiring. Whether those six leave the food supply on that timeline is an open question that the Orange B and Citrus Red actions do not answer.
Readers who want to limit synthetic dyes now can read ingredient panels, where certified colors are listed by name. That is a preference decision. The FDA has not issued guidance advising consumers to avoid the six colors still authorized.
Deadlines That Are Open Right Now
Both dockets close August 24, 2026, which is the only date in this story that calls for action from anyone outside industry.
On Orange B, the mechanism is an objection with a request for a hearing, filed under docket FDA-2025-C-3543. On Citrus Red No. 2, it is an ordinary public comment under docket FDA-2026-N-6304. Both go through the federal eRulemaking portal or by mail to the FDA's Dockets Management Staff in Rockville, Maryland. Comments are posted publicly.
Realistically, the parties with reason to file are food manufacturers, citrus growers and trade associations. Members of the public may comment, and the record is open to them.
The confirmed facts are that the FDA finalized revoking Orange B effective September 8 and proposed revoking Citrus Red No. 2, with both comment periods closing August 24. The people affected are the regulated industry rather than shoppers, because neither dye is in use. The most reasonable action for a household is none. The central uncertainty is the separate voluntary phase-out of six colors that remain in food, which is on its own timeline and carries no regulatory deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the FDA do?
It issued a final order revoking the authorized use of Orange B in food and proposed revoking the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2, both on the grounds that industry had abandoned the uses.
Are these dyes in food I buy?
No. Orange B was authorized only for hot dog and sausage casings and has not been produced in the United States for decades. Citrus Red No. 2 was authorized for coloring orange skins and is likewise no longer used.
Is this the same as banning a food dye?
No. Removing an authorization nobody uses is different from restricting a color that is still in products. Nothing changes on store shelves as a result.
Which dyes are still allowed?
Six certified colors remain authorized and in common use: FD&C Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2. The FDA is tracking voluntary industry commitments to phase them out by the end of 2027.
When do these actions take effect?
The Orange B order is effective September 8, 2026. The Citrus Red No. 2 revocation is only proposed and would require a separate final action.
Can I submit a comment?
Yes. Both dockets are open through August 24, 2026, through the federal eRulemaking portal or by mail to the FDA's Dockets Management Staff.
How can I avoid synthetic dyes now?
Read ingredient panels, where certified colors are listed by name. The FDA has not advised consumers to avoid the colors that remain authorized.
