What to know: Federal officials say the FDA will begin phasing out approval of synthetic food dyes that are petroleum based.

In a media memo released on April 21, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said they would make a joint announcement today about the efforts. Kennedy said the move is a “major step forward in the administration’s efforts to Make America Healthy Again.”

OPINION — By Siobhan DeLancey

“As has been well-covered, April Fool’s Day brought a hatchet to communications programs across the agency. Few public affairs or health communications specialists were spared. I was lucky to be old enough and have sufficient time served to qualify for what is euphemistically called ‘early retirement.’” 

“I’d like to tell you what that means for food safety.”

An investigation in Singapore has been unable to find what made almost 200 people sick earlier this year.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Ministry of Health said there is no conclusive evidence linking the reported cases to the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) meals.