US government will ban artificial food dyes
Listen to the story (Singaporean accent)
The US government plans to ban artificial food dyes. The Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said this ban should happen by the end of next year.
This means food companies will have about two years to switch from using colors made from chemicals and oil to using natural dyes from plants.
Marty Makary, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said companies could use watermelon juice or beet juice for red color instead of artificial red dyes. For orange, they could try carrot juice. The FDA plans to approve some new natural dyes soon.
In January, the government already banned artificial dye Red No. 3., because some people worried it was linked to health problems. The ban was planned to start in 2027, but the government wants companies to stop using it even sooner.
Two other colors, Citrus Red No. 2, used on orange skins, and Orange B, will also be banned in a few months. The government wants all six other artificial food dyes removed by the end of next year.
Mr. Kennedy said that people have been eating these man-made chemicals without knowing it. Some people believe these artificial dyes can cause problems for kids, like ADHD and obesity. However, the FDA says there is no proof that artificial dyes cause these problems.
Some experts think companies can make this change quickly because they already use natural food dyes in other countries. But, the food companies might not like the fast timeline. Food companies say the dyes used now have been studied and are safe.
These artificial dyes are used to make candies, cereals, and sodas look bright and fun.
Vocabulary28 words
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Plan
- want; aim; to intend to do something
- Ban
- to not allow; to stop; to forbid; prohibit;
- Artificial
- Made by people; not found in nature
- Dye
- Something that adds color to things like food, cloth or hair
- Secretary
- the head of a government department, chosen by the president and not a member of a law-making group
- Switch
- To change from one thing to another
- Chemical
- any basic substance that is used in or produced by a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules; stuff that things are made of
- Natural
- Something that comes from nature and is not made by people; not changed
- Plant
- ?; a living thing that grows in the ground, like a tree or a flower
- Head
- leader, top person, boss
- Approve
- officially agree; accept; to say “yes”; authorize
- Worry
- to be/feel concerned or nervous; to be troubled; to think a lot about a negative situation; a little scared
- Link
- A connection between two things; how two things might go together
- Even
- also; used to show that something is surprising, unusual, unexpected, or extreme
- Skin
- The outside covering, like on fruit or your body; some apples have red skin and some apples have green skin
- Remove
- to take out; to take away from; take off; to lift; to end
- Man-made
- Made by people; artificial; not natural
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- ADHD
- A condition that can make it hard for some kids to focus or sit still
- Obesity
- a medical condition in which someone has too much body fat, which can lead to health problems; the state or condition of being very fat/overweight
- Proof
- Something that shows something is definitely true; evidence
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Timeline
- a schedule or time period for when something will be done
- Study
- to learn more; to research; to check carefully
- Candy
- Sweet food, like lollipops or chocolate; ?
- Cereal
- Grain food often eaten for breakfast; ?
- Soda
- A bubbly sweet drink, like Coca-Cola
Quiz
Answer key
1. By the end of next year 2. Red No. 3 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The US _____ plans to ban artificial food dyes. The Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., _____ this ban should happen by the end of next year.
_____ means food companies will have about two years to switch from using colors _____ from chemicals and oil to using natural dyes from _____.
Marty Makary, the head of the Food _____ Drug Administration (FDA), said companies could use watermelon juice or beet _____ for red color instead of artificial red dyes. For orange, they could _____ carrot juice. The FDA plans to approve some new _____ dyes soon.
In January, the government _____ banned artificial dye Red No. 3., because some people worried it _____ linked to health problems. The ban was _____ to start in 2027, but the government wants companies to stop using it _____ sooner.
Two other colors, Citrus Red No. _____, used on orange skins, and Orange B, will also be banned in a few _____. The government wants all six other artificial food dyes removed by the end of _____ year.
Mr. Kennedy said that people _____ been eating these man-made chemicals without knowing it. Some people believe these _____ dyes can cause problems for kids, like ADHD and obesity. _____, the FDA says there is no proof that artificial dyes cause _____ problems.
Some experts think companies _____ make this change quickly because they already use natural food _____ in other countries. But, the food companies might not like the fast _____. Food companies say the dyes used now have been _____ and are safe.
These artificial dyes are _____ to make candies, cereals, and sodas look bright and _____.
Discussion questions
- How do you feel about the US government's plan to ban artificial food dyes?
- Do you think food companies can switch to natural dyes in two years? What challenges might they face?
- The text mentions using natural dyes like fruit and vegetable juices. Would you prefer to see these ingredients in your food instead of artificial colors? Why or why not?
- Some people worry about artificial dyes and kids' health, but the FDA says there's no proof it's bad. What do you think?
- Do you know your country's food laws? Are artificial food dyes allowed or banned?
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