In what the Trump administration called a “major announcement”, the US dairy industry has agreed to voluntarily remove synthetic dyes from ice-cream products, a shift officials say could lead to healthier options, especially for children.“This is relevant to my favorite food, which is ice-cream,” said US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. “Since we came in about five and a half months ago and started talking about eliminating dyes and other bad chemicals from our food, we’ve had this extraordinary response from our industry,” The Guardian quoted the official.More than 40 ice-cream manufacturers have reportedly signed on to the voluntary agreement, according to representatives from the dairy sector. Kennedy also hinted at upcoming dietary guidelines that will “elevate” dairy, including full-fat products, to reflect their contribution to children’s health.Dr Marty Makary, head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), also revealed that the agency has approved a new plant-based dye, “gardenia blue”, which may serve as a natural alternative.The health benefits of full-fat dairy remain contested. While longstanding guidance has warned against excessive intake of saturated fats, sugars and refined grains, a growing number of researchers argue that full-fat dairy may not be as harmful as once believed. This view is echoed by the dairy industry, which has invested heavily in nutrition research and pushed back on government restrictions on dairy in school meals since the Obama era.In rural farming communities, the debate is more than academic. Farmers have displayed hand-painted hay bales with slogans such as “Drink whole milk 97% fat free,” underlining the cultural and economic importance of dairy in these regions.The Trump administration’s close ties with the dairy sector are well-documented. Back in 2019, former agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue famously toasted dairy lobbyists with chocolate milk to mark the return of flavoured milk to school cafeterias.“This is a great day for dairy and a great day for ‘make America healthy again,’” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “We’re so happy with the voluntary industry-led commitment.”Still, the administration’s preference for voluntary deals has met resistance elsewhere. Kennedy’s efforts to secure similar commitments from confectionery giant Mars, maker of Skittles and M&M’s, fell flat. Health experts have also raised doubts on whether voluntary pacts with private health insurers will deliver meaningful change for Americans.
