By Jessica DiNapoli
NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instructed meals firms together with PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz in a gathering on Monday that the Trump administration needs synthetic dyes out of the meals provide earlier than Kennedy leaves workplace, in accordance with an e-mail seen by Reuters.
Kennedy has pledged to sort out continual diseases by overhauling the U.S. eating regimen. He has inspired fast-food chains to change to beef tallow as a substitute of seed oils for French fries, and pushed for bans on components like meals colours.
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The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration, a part of the company Kennedy oversees, plans to work with the trade to create a federal framework on meals dyes, in accordance with the e-mail, despatched by the Shopper Manufacturers Affiliation, a commerce group representing PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and different meals and shopper items makers.
California final yr banned dyes from meals served at school lunches, and Virginia and New York State are contemplating comparable measures.
Bloomberg Information first reported on the dialogue between Kennedy and the meals firms.
In line with the e-mail, the FDA needs to “keep away from state patchworks,” or many states making their very own legal guidelines on the subject, which may create confusion and hurdles for world firms.
Kennedy “expects ‘actual and transformative’ change by ‘getting the worst elements out’ of meals,” in accordance with the e-mail. He additionally made clear that he’ll “take motion except the trade is keen to be proactive with options,” the e-mail states.
Shopper Manufacturers Affiliation CEO Melissa Hockstad mentioned in a press release that the group appears ahead to persevering with to work with Kennedy.
A PepsiCo spokesperson mentioned the Cheetos-maker was centered on “offering shoppers with handy, reasonably priced and protected meals and drinks – together with extra choices with pure elements, no artificial colours and reductions in sugar, fats, and sodium.”
Kraft-Heinz didn’t reply to a request for remark.
(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Enhancing by Rosalba O’Brien)
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