FDA slows synthetic-dye phase-out as 160 food and ag groups press for USMCA renewal

Two significant regulatory developments emerged on June 15 with direct implications for food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and agricultural traders: the FDA signaled a slower path for its synthetic food dye phase-out, and nearly 160 food and agriculture organizations united behind a letter demanding renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement before its July 1 review deadline, according to DLA Piper.

FDA revises synthetic dye timeline

The FDA's effort to phase out synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply has shifted in pace, with the agency revising its schedule in a direction that slows the process, DLA Piper reported. For manufacturers that had begun reformulation planning around earlier projected timelines, the adjustment introduces fresh uncertainty about when compliance will be required. The revision does not reverse the agency's stated direction, but it does change the operational calculus for brands managing ingredient pipelines and label transitions.

Synthetic dyes are used across a wide range of processed foods, beverages, and snacks to achieve consistent color profiles at scale. Any phase-out requires manufacturers to identify alternative colorants — many derived from natural sources — that can replicate performance characteristics under varying production and shelf conditions. A slower federal timeline may ease near-term reformulation pressure, but it also prolongs the period of regulatory ambiguity that complicates long-range product development decisions.

Industry mobilizes ahead of USMCA review

On the trade front, nearly 160 food and agriculture organizations signed a coordinated letter calling on policymakers to renew USMCA before the agreement's July 1 review date, according to DLA Piper. The breadth of the coalition — spanning both food production and agricultural interests — reflects how deeply cross-border supply chains depend on the agreement's preferential terms. USMCA governs trade flows among the United States, Mexico, and Canada, three economies whose agricultural and food sectors are tightly integrated.

The July 1 review is a scheduled joint assessment by the three signatory governments, not an automatic expiration, but industry groups are treating it as a critical inflection point. Failure to send a clear renewal signal, the coalition argues, risks introducing uncertainty into sourcing, pricing, and investment decisions across the food and agriculture value chain. The coordinated letter represents one of the more visible pre-review lobbying efforts the sector has mounted.

Protein and functional claims add regulatory complexity

Beyond dye policy and trade, DLA Piper's June 15 briefing noted continued expansion of protein and functional claims across product categories. As brands compete on nutritional positioning, the volume and variety of such claims on packaging has grown, drawing increased scrutiny from regulators and industry watchdogs alike. Manufacturers navigating the synthetic dye timeline simultaneously managing evolving claim standards face a compounding compliance burden.

Functional claims — which assert a product's role in supporting bodily functions or health outcomes — occupy a carefully defined regulatory space under FDA rules, and expansion in that area typically invites closer label review. Combined with the shifting dye phase-out schedule and the USMCA renewal pressure, the current regulatory environment demands that food and agriculture companies maintain close coordination between their regulatory, legal, and product development teams.