Food-Dye Phaseout and Closing the GRAS Loophole
Advancing
Alongside FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas, Calley Means has pushed the phaseout of synthetic food dyes — red dyes have been removed — and reform of the GRAS (“Generally Recognized as Safe”) self-certification loophole that lets companies introduce new food additives without FDA review. Means says companies should not be able to self-certify new chemicals as safe without the agency reviewing them.
The two officials detailed their year-one wins — the flipped food pyramid, dye removals, and SNAP reform — in a lengthy April 2026 podcast appearance with Gary Brecka on The Ultimate Human (#260). In that conversation, they framed the dye phaseout and GRAS reform as foundational steps toward rebuilding trust in the food supply, rather than one-off actions.
The GRAS reform effort remains in progress. It is one of the more technically complex pieces of the MAHA food agenda, since it involves reworking how the FDA handles safety determinations for thousands of additives that entered the market under self-certification.
Timeline
- 2025–2026: FDA moves to phase out synthetic food dyes, including red dyes; Means and FDA human-foods deputy Kyle Diamantas drive the push.
- April 2026: Means and Diamantas detail year-one wins (flipped pyramid, dye removals, SNAP reform) on The Ultimate Human #260.
- Ongoing: GRAS self-certification reform is being developed.
