Summary

A proposed U.S. ban on petroleum-based synthetic food dyes created over 159,000 mentions and 1.6 million engagements by consumers, particularly among young parents. Despite political framing from figures like Trump and RFK Jr., the conversation revealed bipartisan consensus centered on health and consumer safety, with artificial dyes such as Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5 at the forefront. Concerns focused on links to health issues like ADHD, cancer, and obesity, often citing a Lancet study. The MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement emerged as a key driver of this discourse, uniting both Democrats and Republicans in a push for cleaner food policies. The FDA and other government-affiliated sources remained trusted despite broader political discontent, and the dominant themes reflected parenting, family health, and public advocacy for safer consumer products.

MAHA Movement and U.S. Consumer Sentiment: Data-Driven Analysis of Online Reactions to the Synthetic Food Dye Ban

Analysis of digital conversations concerning the proposed ban on petroleum-based synthetic food dyes revealed a total of 159,700 individual mentions and 1.6M engagement actions across social platforms by US consumers. These metrics reflect significant public interaction with the topic, indicating high visibility and active discourse within a short time frame.

Bipartisan Digital Consensus Emerges on Health and Consumer Safety Despite Political Framing

Despite heavy political framing (Trump War Room, RFK Jr., Laura Ingraham), both conservative and alternative health communities converged on the core health and consumer safety message indicating a bipartisan consensus in digital sentiment.

Observed Themes Around The Food Dye Ban Discussion

About 1/3 of online news articles in the U.S. that consumers relied on for information about food dyes featured images of government or media branding, incl. CSPAN, Fox Business, HHS, and the FDA. Despite declining consumer sentiment toward the administration amid tariff news, government-affiliated outlets and logos - like FDA, HHS, and CSPAN - continue to be perceived as credible, authoritative sources by the public.

Repetition of Dye Names

Artificial food dyes were central to consumer concerns, with 79% of all posts highlighting Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, and Green No. 3 through repeated visual emphasis including images and videos in posts.

Petroleum-based food dyes” appeared in 16% of U.S. consumer posts and was among the key terms shaping the food dye conversation.

Health Conditions Cited

ADHD, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and genomic disruption were the most commonly cited in consumer discussions.

A Lancet study was referenced in multiple posts to support behavioral impact (increased hyperactivity) tied to artificial food dyes. This study was shared by the medical community, which also participated in the food dye discussions.

Consumer Demographics

The age distribution of users discussing synthetic food dyes on social media showed peak engagement among those aged 25–34 (47%), followed by 18–24 (24.7%) and 35–44 (18.2%). Much of this conversation came from self-identified parents expressing concern about what their children consume. These consumers weren’t just sharing information- they acted as advocates for safer food choices and responded strongly to the policy news impacting their families and health. Overall, in the past week, young parents have been driving the digital conversation around food safety and praising the MAHA movement.

Interest Segmentation

Participants in synthetic food dye discussions exhibited the following dominant interest areas:

Family and Parenting was the most prevalent interest, associated with 33.6% of users.

Other reported interests included:

Sports (5.5%)
Animals (5.4%)
Food & Drinks (4.3%)
Fitness & Health (3.6%)

There was a strong concentration in parenting and lifestyle-related topics by consumers.

MAHA supporters are identifying as both Democrats and Republicans are revealing a rare point of unity across party lines in the consumer health space.

The MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement has become a central force in the online conversation around food dyes, amplifying public concern about synthetic additives in everyday products. Tied closely to recent FDA announcements, MAHA supporters have taken to social media to call for the removal of petroleum-based food dyes like Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5, framing the issue as part of a larger push for cleaner, safer food.

Between April 18 and April 24, the MAHA movement was mentioned by over 70,000 consumers, with 35% of the sentiment classified as positive. Many praised the move as long overdue, especially in the context of children's health. Engagement is trending upward, with growing conversations linking MAHA to broader food policy reform and public health advocacy.