Federal regulators are officially eliminating Orange B, an artificial dye once approved for use in sausage casings and hot dogs. The Food and Drug Administration announced it will repeal the 1966 regulation after confirming no company has sought certification for the dye since 1978. Officials called the step “symbolic,” saying the rule is outdated and unnecessary.

The decision comes as the FDA faces more pressure to tighten oversight of food dyes. Earlier this year, the agency banned Red No. 3 due to cancer concerns, while other dyes like Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1 remain under review. Consumer advocates argue that removing Orange B changes little, since the additive hasn’t been used for decades.

Critics continue to push for stronger protections, pointing to research linking artificial dyes with behavioral issues in children. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to phase out petroleum-based dyes from food, citing risks to children’s health. While the FDA maintains that most approved dyes are safe, several remain under review as concerns grow.