Ice cream is going to look a little bit different in the U.S. in the coming years thanks to a recent industry pledge that falls in line with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to remove artificial dyes from foods.
According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), ice cream has a history dating back to the second century B.C. and it has been in the U.S. since the days of first President George Washington. It said he spent approximately $200 for ice cream during the summer of 1790 and that third President Thomas Jefferson even had an 18-step recipe for a special ice cream dish.
This week’s announcement from the IDFA revealed that American ice cream makers plan to eliminate artificial dye from their products made with real milk by Dec. 31 2027.
“With this effort, dozens of U.S. ice cream companies are pledging to eliminate the use of certified artificial colors Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their ice cream and frozen dairy desserts by 2028,” said a press release from the association. “The Commitment represents companies making more than 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the United States.”
In April, Audacy reported on Kennedy’s plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply. He called the substances “poisonous compounds” that “offer no nutritional benefit,” that pose danger to human health, particularly child health and development.
Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins helped scoop ice cream on the front steps of the USDA Monday to celebrate the IDFA’s announcement. Both praised the association for its move.
“I applaud the International Dairy Foods Association for stepping up to eliminate certified artificial colors,” Kennedy said. “The American people have made it clear – they want real food, not chemicals. Together with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, we’re holding the food industry accountable and driving a nationwide effort to Make America Healthy Again.”
“I appreciate IDFA members for spearheading this new initiative and finding ways to promote President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Each one of these endeavors helps families make better choices and pursue healthier lives,” said Rollins.
National and state policies are expected to changes as Kennedy’s plan moves forward, and the IDFA said that ice cream makers plan to keep pace. In fact, it said that many have already phased certified-artificial colors.
“I am proud of ice cream makers and dairy foods companies for stepping up for American families by making this voluntary commitment to provide ice cream and frozen dairy treats without certified artificial colors,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. “Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve.”
In addition to his initiative to eliminate artificial dyes from foods, Kennedy has said wants to encourage Americans to use wearable health monitors such as the FitBit. He’s also made headlines for his changes to certain health panels.
At the USDA, more announcements also came out about changes this week. These included plans to bolster meat and poultry safety and an announcement of no additional imports of specialty sugars beyond what U.S. international obligations dictate.