To the editor: The proposal of the Food and Medicines Administration to formally prohibit Orange B, a synthetic food dye that is not used for decades, may seem to a large extent symbolic (“The FDA proposes the prohibition of orange B, a food dye that is not used for decades.” September 17), but highlights a broader issue: the need for a more significant supervision of food additives. While eliminating a long obsolete dye is positive, the agency's approach could be better to spend on dyes and chemicals that still prevail in the supply of foods that pose genuine health risks. For example, the widely used food coloring coloring was recently banned 35 years After he was initially linked to cancer.
Regulatory updates must prioritize the protection of public health and guarantee consumer safety so that it has a tangible impact. Symbolic prohibitions can generate holders, but do little for daily security. The FDA has the opportunity to strengthen supervision in a way that matters, safeguarding the millions of Americans who consume processed foods daily.
Arav Mestry, Fremont
