FDA's voluntary dye deals go unenforced
Voluntary agreements by the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove synthetic food dyes and reduce insurance prior authorization are largely unenforced and behind schedule. A KFF Health News report finds deadlines extended and few companies complying, with critics calling the initiatives publicity stunts.
Voluntary health initiatives championed by the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are faltering due to a lack of enforcement. Key agreements on removing artificial food dyes and reducing insurance prior authorization requirements are behind schedule, with many companies failing to meet their pledges, according to a report from KFF Health News.
These deals, announced with fanfare at televised events, lack the teeth of formal regulation. Their details are often vague, and minimal oversight makes progress hard to track. Republicans see the approach as a winning, anti-regulatory strategy. Critics argue it creates little lasting change once the political spotlight moves on.
The Unfulfilled Pledge on Food Dyes
In April 2025, Kennedy announced deals with food makers to voluntarily phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes. He targeted nine dyes for removal from the nation's food and medicine supply. A March survey by Consumer Reports found 72% of adults were concerned about such dyes, and two-thirds said companies should be required to phase them out.
A year later, Kennedy declared victory, stating, "We've gotten rid of the nine synthetic-based food dyes." That claim was premature. Initially, officials said companies would stop using six specific dyes by the end of 2026. The FDA later quietly changed that deadline on its website to the end of 2027.
As of December 2025, the FDA listed 27 companies that had pledged to remove six dyes from products like Doritos and Froot Loops. More than a year and a half later, fewer than 30% of those companies had met their goals. Many major food makers, including Coca-Cola and Unilever, have made "no concrete commitments," according to Consumer Reports. No pharmaceutical companies have publicly pledged to remove dyes from drugs.
"It's just all talk," said Leslie Dach, chair of the advocacy group Protect Our Care. "They just govern for a day of publicity, and then it's over."
The administration also loosened labeling rules. Companies can now claim products have "no artificial colors" if they avoid petroleum-based dyes, even if they contain other added colors. Some natural colorants may pose health risks.
HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard defended the approach, citing commitments to remove dyes from school foods for the 2026-27 school year. "HHS and the FDA are moving forward with clear timelines and concrete industry commitments," she said.
Prior Authorization Promises Fall Short
In June 2025, Kennedy and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz announced a deal with major insurers. They pledged to reduce the volume of healthcare services subject to prior authorization by January 2026. The administration promised "public dashboards" to track progress.
"It will happen very quickly," Oz said at the event. "Necessary care will be delivered when it's needed."
By July 2026, months past the deadline, health plans had reduced prior authorization for medical services by only about 11%, according to insurer trade group AHIP. No public dashboards have been launched. Some insurers that signed the pledge told KFF Health News they will not implement all the promised reforms.
A 2025 American Medical Association survey found only one in three doctors believed the voluntary pledges would make a meaningful difference. Insurers made a similar promise in 2018. By the next year, over 80% of doctors said prior authorization requests were increasing.
Meanwhile, the administration is testing an AI-powered prior authorization system for Medicare in six states. The program began in January 2026, the same deadline insurers missed for their broader reforms.
Deals Over Regulation
The voluntary approach appeals to voters who see government regulation as costly and burdensome. Supporters say it allows for quick agreements the administration can tout as accomplishments. Larry Levitt of KFF noted the lack of transparency. "These deals are often not transparent, so there's no way for the public to judge how meaningful they are," he said.
With minimal documentation and follow-through, the lasting impact of these health policy initiatives remains in doubt. As of now, most synthetic dyes remain in use, and prior authorization reforms are largely unrealized.
