The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced two food-color regulatory actions on July 22, 2026.
The agency issued a final order revoking the authorized food use of Orange B and separately proposed revoking the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2. The legal status of the two colors is therefore different: Orange B has reached the final revocation stage, while Citrus Red No. 2 remains subject to public comment.
Both authorizations had highly limited uses
Orange B was authorized only for coloring the casings or surfaces of frankfurters and sausages, at a maximum level of 150 parts per million.
The FDA concluded that this authorized use had been abandoned by industry. The final revocation becomes effective on September 8, 2026, with objections accepted through August 24.
Citrus Red No. 2 has been authorized for coloring the skins of mature oranges not intended for processing. The FDA has tentatively concluded that this use has also been abandoned and is accepting comments through August 24, 2026 before deciding whether to finalize the revocation.
Not a new contamination or recall event
The immediate regulatory basis for both actions is discontinued commercial use, rather than a newly identified contamination event or an emergency food recall.
The distinction matters. These measures are primarily intended to remove obsolete authorizations and form part of a broader federal initiative to reduce petroleum-based synthetic colors in the U.S. food supply.
Limited immediate market disruption
Because the two authorized uses were already rarely used or abandoned, the actions are unlikely to require extensive reformulation or cause a significant ingredient shortage.
Their broader importance lies in the direction of U.S. policy. Food manufacturers and color suppliers are increasingly being encouraged to evaluate alternative color sources.
The larger commercial challenge will involve replacing more widely used synthetic dyes while maintaining stability, processing performance, color consistency and affordability.
