To the editor: The Meals and Drug Administration’s proposal to formally ban Orange B, an artificial meals dye not used for many years, could appear largely symbolic (“FDA proposes ban on Orange B, a meals dye not used for many years,” Sept. 17), but it highlights a broader challenge: the necessity for extra significant oversight of meals components. Whereas eradicating a long-obsolete dye is optimistic, the company’s focus could be higher spent on dyes and chemical compounds nonetheless prevalent within the meals provide that pose real well being dangers. For instance, the broadly used meals dye Crimson No. 3 was solely not too long ago banned 35 years after it was initially linked to most cancers.
Regulatory updates ought to prioritize defending public well being and guaranteeing shopper security in ways in which have tangible affect. Symbolic bans could generate headlines, however they do little for on a regular basis security. The FDA has a chance to strengthen oversight in a method that issues, safeguarding the tens of millions of Individuals who devour processed meals every day.
Arav Mestry, Fremont
