CHICAGO — Delving into the evolving landscape of artificial food colors and their various implications, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will host an hour-long webinar in the form of a panel discussion titled “Artificial Food Colors: Consumer Concerns Shaping Policy and Industry.”
Free to the public, the webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of how consumer concerns around artificial food coloring influence additive policies in the food and beverage industry. The panel will also address the recently passed California School Food Safety Act (AB 2316) which prohibits schools from offering foods and beverages containing six artificial food dyes including Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 2.
“Since the passing of the California Food Safety Act in 2023, several states have proposed similar legislation while the FDA is simultaneously developing a new process for conducting post-market assessments of chemicals in food,” said Anna Rosales, senior director of government affairs and nutrition at IFT. “The discussion of food chemical safety and specifically that of additives continues to expand, and food and beverage professionals should be prepared for state-level action and federal updates.”
IFT will also feature experts from three key sectors of the global food system, including Anthony Flood from the International Food Information Council, food industry lawyer Martin J. Hahn and additive consultant David R. Schoneker.
Flood will present consumer perceptions and concerns related to color additives; Hahn will provide an overview of current color additives legislation and potential future policies; and Schoneker will address the impact of policy on product development and innovation within that realm.
IFT recently released an updated version of its 2024 Additives Overview, a members-only resource that covers use cases, regulations, research, and substitutions for all the additives covered in AB 2316, in addition to other frequently discussed additives.
The webinar will be held on Oct. 11 at 12:00 p.m. For more information and to register, participants can visit the IFT event website.
