TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A natural blue food coloring made from gardenia fruit has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The additive — dubbed gardenia blue — can now be used in foods like sports drinks, flavored waters, fruit drinks, teas, and both hard and soft candies, the FDA announced July 14.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods. Additionally, ice cream could also be shedding artificial food dyes in years to come.

That makes four natural color additives approved by the new administration, which also encouraged processors to hasten the phase-out of Red 3.