RFK Jr. Targets Food Dyes, Candy Makers Resist

Level 3 · Checked Lesson by: Aron Thode Source:npr.org, nytimes.com

How to study this lesson

Ask: (1) Do you check food labels for ingredients? Why or why not? (2) Do you eat candy? When and what types?

M&Ms in a variety of colors.
M&Ms in a variety of colors.

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to remove synthetic food dyes from foods in the U.S. He says removing petroleum-based dyes from food will help people eat better and fight chronic disease.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with food companies. Six common dyes will be voluntarily removed by the end of next year, and the FDA is moving to ban two others. Popular products like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms are expected to be dye-free by 2027.

Kennedy and FDA commissioner Marty Makary point to research that connects synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. Makary said that for years, American children have lived in a “toxic soup” of synthetic chemicals, and that removing petroleum-based food dyes is an important step.

Not everyone agrees. Industry groups say U.S. and European regulators have reviewed the dyes and say they are safe. Melissa Hockstad, head of the Consumer Brands Association, said the current ingredients have been rigorously studied.

Some large food companies such as Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills have accepted Kennedy’s plan, but candy companies remain a major roadblock. Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, says its products are safe and that natural colors are more expensive, fade easily, and are hard to match. Candy makers also say American consumers prefer brightly colored treats.

Vocab List

  • Synthetic (adj.) — Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.
  • Petroleum-based (adj.) — Made from oil or products of oil.
  • Chronic (adj.) — Happening for a long time or returning often.
  • Voluntarily (adv.) — Done by free choice, not by force or law.
  • Dye-free (adj.) — Made without any added color chemicals.
  • Toxic soup (n.) — A mix of many harmful chemicals.
  • Regulators (n.) — Government groups that make and enforce rules.
  • Rigorously (adv.) — Carefully and completely, with very high standards.

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to remove (1) __________ food dyes from foods in the U.S. He says removing petroleum-based dyes from food will help people eat better and fight chronic disease.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with food companies. Six common dyes will be (2) __________ removed by the end of next year, and the FDA is moving to ban two others. Popular products like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms are expected to be (3) __________ by 2027.

Kennedy and FDA commissioner Marty Makary point to research that connects synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. Makary said that for years, American children have lived in a "toxic soup" of synthetic chemicals, and that removing petroleum-based food dyes is an important step.

Not everyone agrees. Industry groups say U.S. and European (4) __________ have reviewed the dyes and say they are safe. Melissa Hockstad, head of the Consumer Brands Association, said the current ingredients have been (5) __________ studied.

Some large food companies such as Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills have accepted Kennedy’s plan, but candy companies remain a (6) __________ roadblock. Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, says its products are safe and that natural colors are more expensive, fade easily, and are hard to match. Candy makers also say American consumers prefer brightly colored treats.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The FDA plans to ban all food dyes next year.
    Six common dyes will be removed voluntarily, and two may be banned. Many products aim to be dye-free by 2027, not next year, and not all dyes are banned.
  • Some large food companies agreed to follow the plan.
    Companies like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills accepted the plan.
  • Candy makers say natural colors are cheap and easy to use.
    Candy makers say natural colors cost more, fade easily, and are hard to match.
  • Research links synthetic dyes to health problems in some children.
    The article says research connects synthetic dyes to health problems in children.

True or False

1. The FDA plans to ban all food dyes next year. T / F

2. Some large food companies agreed to follow the plan. T / F

3. Candy makers say natural colors are cheap and easy to use. T / F

4. Research links synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. T / F

Vocab List
  • Synthetic (adj.)
  • Petroleum-based (adj.)
  • Chronic (adj.)
  • Voluntarily (adv.)
  • Dye-free (adj.)
  • Toxic soup (n.)
  • Regulators (n.)
  • Rigorously (adv.)

Vocab Match

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Synthetic

2. Chronic

3. Voluntarily

4. Dye-free

5. Regulators

6. Rigorously

a) Carefully and completely, with very high standards.

b) Government groups that make and enforce rules.

c) Made without any added color chemicals.

d) Done by free choice, not by force or law.

e) Happening for a long time or returning often.

f) Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.

Discussion Questions

  1. How much do you care about eating healthy food?
  2. Are there any ingredients that you avoid?
  3. Should governments remove synthetic dyes from food, or should they wait for more research on their effects?
  4. If customers prefer to buy brightly colored foods, should we respect that choice?
  5. Why do some candy makers want to keep the bright colors, in your opinion?
  6. Are natural colors a good solution if they cost more and fade easily? Explain.
  7. M&M's come in a variety of colors (red, orange, green, blue, yellow, and dark brown). Which color would you pick first?
  8. Would you choose to buy a natural product if it were more expensive than a product made with synthetic dyes? Why?
  9. What does it mean when something is “rigorously studied”? Do you trust the people that are doing the research?
  10. What are the most important things to do to stay healthy?

Answers

Listening: (1) synthetic, (2) voluntarily, (3) dye-free, (4) regulators, (5) rigorously, (6) major

True or False:

  1. False. Six common dyes will be removed voluntarily, and two may be banned. Many products aim to be dye-free by 2027, not next year, and not all dyes are banned.
  2. True. Companies like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills accepted the plan.
  3. False. Candy makers say natural colors cost more, fade easily, and are hard to match.
  4. True. The article says research connects synthetic dyes to health problems in children.

Vocabulary:

  1. Synthetic: Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.

  2. Chronic: Happening for a long time or returning often.

  3. Voluntarily: Done by free choice, not by force or law.

  4. Dye-free: Made without any added color chemicals.

  5. Regulators: Government groups that make and enforce rules.

  6. Rigorously: Carefully and completely, with very high standards.

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