The Illusion Of Clean: Why Removing Food Dyes Won’t Fix America’s Diet

InnovationHealthcareThe Illusion Of Clean: Why Removing Food Dyes Won’t Fix America’s DietByBrian Castrucci,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Brian Castrucci is the president & CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation.Follow AuthorMay 14, 2026, 07:27am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Miami Beach, Florida, Collins Avenue, Publix, supermarket, breakfast cereal section, General Mills Post Kellogg's brands, colorful food packaging, Blueberry Chex Bluey Trix Cinnamon Toast Crunch Lucky Charms Raisin Nut Bran Wheaties Kix Cocoa Puffs KitKat Reese's Puffs Golden Grahams, Oreo Waffle Crisp cereals. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe Illusion of Clean: Why Removing Food Dyes Won’t Fix America’s DietAmericans will fight about almost anything — but not this: they don’t want chemicals coloring their kids’ food. And they’re right.But removing food dyes won’t fix what’s broken in the American diet.This is the illusion of clean: we strip out the most visible ingredient, keep everything else the same and call it progress.We’ve gotten very good at making food look safer, without making it healthier.Recent polling shows that 79% of U.S. adults support the FDA’s plan to phase out eight artificial food additives, and 76% say they’re concerned about food dyes in products they buy. But only 30% say they pay attention to food dyes and other ingredients when making purchasing decisions.The Gap Between Knowledge and BehaviorAmericans say they want dyes gone, but they’re still buying the same products that contain them. We don’t have a knowledge problem — we have a behavior gap.In another poll, only one in three parents said the standard American diet is healthy for their kids, yet very few have tried alternative diets at home. Americans know much of what...