US ice cream makers say they’ll stop using artificial dyes by 2028

 Ice cream makers representing about 90 percent of the U.S. supply of the frozen treat have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products in less than three years, federal health officials said.

The move is the latest voluntary effort by food manufacturers to heed calls from the Trump administration to remove synthetic dyes over concerns about potential health effects. In recent weeks, companies including Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would pull artificial colors from their foods, too.

“This is a renaissance moment for health in America,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference.

About 40 makers of ice cream and frozen dairy desserts said they would remove seven petroleum-based dyes from their products by 2028, according to Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). The colors are Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. The trade group wouldn’t identify the firms, although Turkey Hill Dairy chief executive Andy Jacobs joined the gathering.

The national focus on artificial food dyes is “a good step to take,” but officials should not ignore larger known contributors to chronic disease, including the added sugars and saturated fat commonly found in ice cream, said Deanna Hoelscher, a University of Texas nutrition expert.

“Just taking out or changing the food dye source is not necessarily going to make it a healthy option,” she said. “It still is a food that should be consumed in moderation.”

However, Makary also hinted that new federal dietary guidelines, expected later this year, would challenge established links between saturated fat and heart disease, ending what he called “a 70-year demonization of natural saturated fat.”

The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream a year, the IDFA said.

Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies showing that they may cause some neurobehavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and attention problems, in some children.

Source : https://www.rarejob.com/dna/

Comprehension

What did U.S. ice cream makers pledge to do within three years?
Why are artificial dyes being removed from foods?
Name three big companies that also said they would remove artificial colors.
Who is Marty Makary, and what did he say about the change?
Which artificial dye colors will be removed?
What health concerns did Deanna Hoelscher raise about ice cream?
How much ice cream does the average American eat each year?
What possible problems have health advocates linked to artificial dyes in children?

Discussion

Do you think removing artificial dyes makes ice cream healthier? Why or why not?
Would you choose ice cream without artificial colors over regular ice cream?
What other unhealthy ingredients are often found in sweet foods?
Do you believe people should eat ice cream only “in moderation”? Why?
What are some healthy snacks or desserts you enjoy?
How popular is ice cream in your country?
Do you think food companies care more about profit or health?
Should governments make strict rules about food ingredients, or should it be voluntary?
How do colorful foods (like candy and ice cream) attract children?
Would you like to make homemade ice cream? What flavor would you try?

Vocabulary

Pledge – A serious promise or commitment.
Artificial – Not natural; made by humans.
Synthetic – Man-made, not from nature.
Petroleum-based – Made from oil or chemicals related to oil.
Chronic disease – Long-term illness such as diabetes or heart disease.
Moderation – Not too much, not too little; a balanced amount.
Demonization – The act of treating something as very bad or evil.
Neurobehavioral – Related to how the brain affects behavior.