FDA Bans One Solvent in Fruit Ink, Keeps Two Others
Published Date: 11/10/2026
Rule
Summary
The FDA is making a smart move by banning methylene chloride in inks used to mark fruits and veggies because it can cause cancer in lab animals. However, they’re keeping the other solvents—ethylene dichloride and trichloroethylene—in some color additives since tiny leftover amounts aren’t covered by the cancer rule. This change kicks in January 11, 2027, and anyone who disagrees has until December 10, 2026, to speak up.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on methylene chloride in fruit-marking inks
FDA is revoking the authorization for methylene chloride as a diluent in color additive mixtures used in inks for marking fruit and vegetables. This revocation is effective January 11, 2027, and FDA removed the entry for “Methylene chloride” from Sec. 73.1; objections or hearing requests must be filed by December 10, 2026.
Chlorinated solvent residues allowed in spice-derived color additives
FDA denied the petition to remove ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene as approved extraction solvents for annatto extract, paprika oleoresin, and turmeric oleoresin because residues from those solvents are treated as impurities (not color additives) under the Delaney Clause. Those spice-derived color additives must meet existing limits on total chlorinated solvent residues, which are limited to 30 parts per million (ppm).
Separate order removes extraction uses due to abandonment
The document states that elsewhere in the same Federal Register issue FDA published a final order amending the color additive regulations to no longer provide for the extraction solvent uses of ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene because those uses have been abandoned. That separate final order therefore removes those authorized extraction uses from the regulations.
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