RFK Jr. and the Food Dye Reckoning: A Wake-Up Call for America’s Health and Liberty
- Ethan Justice
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
In a move that shocked few but delighted many who value transparency and accountability in public health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now leading efforts to reform the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has taken a bold stance against artificial food dyes—specifically petroleum-based colorants like Red Dye No. 3. His decision to ban these harmful substances marks a major victory for parents, educators, and advocates of truth in science and food policy.
Yet the real question we must ask is: Why did it take this long?
The Science Was Always There
Red Dye No. 3, widely used in candies, cereals, snacks, and yes—even those iconic frosted Pop-Tarts—was flagged as carcinogenic by the FDA as far back as 1990. That’s right: our own Food and Drug Administration concluded that this dye caused thyroid tumors in rats and recommended it be removed from cosmetics. Oddly, it remained approved for food products. A study by the National Institutes of Health reaffirmed these concerns, linking food dyes to behavioral issues in children, including hyperactivity and attention disorders. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment also concluded in 2021 that synthetic food dyes may be harmful to children.
So why, in 2025, is Red Dye No. 3 still in the food supply?
Follow the Money: Big Food and Big Pharma
The answer is simple: corporate profit. The sugar industry, along with Big Food giants, has spent decades manipulating science, lobbying Washington, and suppressing public outcry to maintain a stranglehold on the American diet. Food dyes like Red No. 3 are not added for nutritional value. They're there to make processed products more visually appealing and to artificially enhance "flavor experiences" in chemically laden, sugar-heavy goods.
From Kellogg's to Kraft, food companies have engineered their products for maximum shelf-life, marketability, and addictiveness—often at the expense of health. And let’s not forget Big Pharma. While children consume artificially colored, sugar-laden food that may contribute to hyperactivity or other behavioral problems, pharmaceutical companies are conveniently ready with prescriptions for Ritalin, Adderall, and other medications. The cycle feeds itself—quite literally.
Then vs. Now: The Pop-Tart Comparison
Consider the Pop-Tart, a sugary American breakfast staple since 1964. Let’s compare the ingredients list from a 1975 box to today’s 2025 version.
1975 Pop-Tart (Strawberry Frosted):
Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron)
Sugar
Corn syrup
Strawberry preserves
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil
Salt
Baking soda
Dried egg whites
Natural flavors
Red #40 (in very small quantity)
2025 Pop-Tart (Strawberry Frosted):
Enriched bleached flour
High fructose corn syrup
Sugar
Soybean and palm oil (with TBHQ for freshness)
Corn syrup solids
Artificial strawberry flavor
Modified corn starch
Dextrose
Gelatin
Sodium acid pyrophosphate
Mono- and diglycerides
TBHQ (preservative)
Soy lecithin
Not only has the number of additives increased dramatically, but we now see a cocktail of synthetic dyes and preservatives that are known to pose risks to health—especially for growing children.
What RFK Jr. Understands—And Why It Matters
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been a voice of reason and resistance in a world too often dominated by corporate collusion and political complacency. His move to ban these harmful dyes is not just good policy—it’s a return to common sense. It’s also a recognition of something the Founders knew well: that government exists to protect individual rights and serve the people, not corporate interests.
The truth is, America has allowed powerful lobbying groups to dictate food and drug policy for decades. According to OpenSecrets.org, Big Pharma spent over $377 million on lobbying in 2023 alone. The food industry wasn’t far behind. These dollars buy silence, regulatory loopholes, and scientific obfuscation. Meanwhile, everyday Americans are left in the dark about what they—and their children—are eating.
Time to Reclaim Our Plates—and Our Rights
This isn't just a food issue. It's a constitutional issue. Americans have the right to know what they’re consuming and the right to demand that their government protect public health over corporate profit.
The 917 Society believes in teaching the next generation about the Constitution—not just as a document, but as a safeguard for liberty. That includes the right to life, liberty, and yes—bodily autonomy from chemicals that have no business being in our food.
It’s time we stopped letting unelected bureaucrats and unaccountable corporations dictate what’s “safe” to eat. Thanks to the efforts of leaders like RFK Jr., we are finally seeing the first steps toward real reform. But the fight is far from over.
Parents, patriots, and principled citizens must keep demanding change, educating their communities, and standing firm on the truth. Our children deserve better. Our Constitution demands it. For more information on Constitution Education visit www.917society.org
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