February 18, 2026│Office of Communications
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working with industry to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply. As you may know, FD&C Red No. 3 will no longer be allowed in foods, including alcoholic beverages. Industry members have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products. See TTB Reminder: FDA Revokes Authorizations for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil and FD&C Red No. 3. On July 14, 2025, FDA issued a letter encouraging food manufacturers to accelerate phasing out the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods before the 2027 deadline.
Consistent with its objective to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the food supply, on May 9, 2025, FDA announced it was granting three new color additive petitions for color additives derived from natural sources. An additional color additive petition was granted on July 17, 2025. See FDA Color Additives for more information.
How are new color additives approved?
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives are subject to FDA pre-market approval to determine whether they are safe before they may be used in food. An interested person may petition FDA for the proposed use of a color additive, and the petition must be supported by data showing a color additive’s safety and suitability for an intended use or uses.
Once the FDA grants a color additive petition and issues a color additive regulation, any manufacturer can use the color additive for the authorized use described in the regulation. For example, the petition for butterfly pea flower extract included coloring of alcoholic beverages as an approved use, but other recent petitions seeking authorization for color additive uses have not specifically included the coloring of alcoholic beverages as an intended use.
Can I use any approved color additive in my alcohol beverage?
A color additive approved for use in food generally may be used in alcohol beverages unless the color additive regulation states otherwise. However, many color additive regulations only authorize the use of a color additive in specific foods, and such specific uses do not necessarily include the use in alcohol beverages. Unless a color additive is approved for use in food generally, the color additive regulation’s intended uses must specifically include coloring of alcoholic beverages to be able to use these color additives, including colors derived from natural sources.
Who do I contact with questions?
We encourage you to seek out the resources on FDA’s website regarding color additive petitions and to contact FDA (premarkt@fda.hhs.gov) with questions about the color additive approval process and how you may ensure your products can take advantage of color additives derived from natural sources as they become available.
If you have a question about the classification of your alcohol beverage product, or an allowed use of a certain color additive, please contact the Alcohol Labeling and Formulation Division (ALFD) through our ALFD Contact Form. If you need nonbeverage product assistance, contact the Nonbeverage Alcohol and Tobacco Branch using our Scientific Services Division Contact Form.
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