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As pressure grows to get artificial colors out of the U.S. food supply, the shift may well start at Abby Tampows laboratory desk. On an April afternoon, the scientist hovered over tiny dishes of red dye, each a slightly different ruby hue. Her task? To match the synthetic shade used for years in a commercial bottled raspberry vinaigrettebut by using only natural ingredients. With this red, it needs a little more orange, Tampow said, mixing a slurry of purplish black carrot juice with a bit of beta-carotene, an orange-red color made from algae. Tampow is part of the team at Sensient Technologies Corp., one of the worlds largest dyemakers, that is rushing to help the salad dressing manufactureralong with thousands of other American businessesmeet demands to overhaul colors used to brighten products from cereals to sports drinks. Most of our customers have decided that this is finally the time when theyre going to make that switch to a natural color, said Dave Gebhardt, Sensients senior technical director. He joined a recent tour of the Sensient Colors factory in a north St. Louis neighborhood. Last week, U.S. health officials announced plans to persuade food companies to voluntarily eliminate petroleum-based artificial dyes by the end of 2026. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called them poisonous compounds that endanger childrens health and development, citing limited evidence of potential health risks. The federal push follows a flurry of state laws and a January decision to ban the artificial dye known as Red 3found in cakes, candies and some medicationsbecause of cancer risks in lab animals. Social media influencers and ordinary consumers have ramped up calls for artificial colors to be removed from foods. A change to natural colors may not be fast The FDA allows about three dozen color additives, including eight remaining synthetic dyes. But making the change from the petroleum-based dyes to colors derived from vegetables, fruits, flowers and even insects wont be easy, fast, or cheap, said Monica Giusti, an Ohio State University food color expert. Study after study has shown that if all companies were to remove synthetic colors from their formulations, the supply of the natural alternatives would not be enough, Giusti said. We are not really ready. It can take six months to a year to convert a single product from a synthetic dye to a natural one. And it could require three to four years to build up the supply of botanical products necessary for an industrywide shift, Sensient officials said. Its not like theres 150 million pounds of beet juice sitting around waiting on the off chance the whole market may convert, said Paul Manning, the company’s chief executive. Tens of millions of pounds of these products need to be grown, pulled out of the ground, extracted. To make natural dyes, Sensient works with farmers and producers around the world to harvest the raw materials, which typically arrive at the plant as bulk concentrates. Theyre processed and blended into liquids, granules, or powders and then sent to food companies to be added to final products. Natural dyes are harder to make and use than artificial colors. They are less consistent in color, less stable and subject to changes related to acidity, heat, and light, Manning said. Blue is especially difficult. There aren’t many natural sources of the color, and those that exist can be hard to maintain during processing. Also, a natural color costs about 10 times more to make than the synthetic version, Manning estimated. How do you get that same vividness, that same performance, that same level of safety in that product as you would in a synthetic product? he said. Theres a lot of complexity associated with that. The insects that could make Barbie pink naturally Companies have long used the Red 3 synthetic dye to create what Sensient officials describe as the Barbie pink. To create that color with a natural source might require the use of cochineal, an insect about the size of a peppercorn. The female insects release a vibrant red pigment, carminic acid, in their bodies and eggs. The bugs live only on prickly pear cactuses in Peru and elsewhere. About 70,000 cochineal insects are needed to produce 1 kilogram, about 2.2 pounds, of dye. It’s interesting how the most exotic colors are found in the most exotic places, said Norb Nobrega, who travels the world scouting new hues for Sensient. Artificial dyes are used widely in U.S. foods. About 1 in 5 food products in the U.S. contains added colors, whether natural or synthetic, Manning estimated. Many contain multiple colors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires a sample of each batch of synthetic colors to be submitted for testing and certification. Color additives derived from plant, animal or mineral sources are exempt, but have been evaluated by the agency. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some children. The FDA says that the approved dyes are safe when used according to regulations and that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives. But critics note that added colors are a key component of ultraprocessed foods, which account for more than 70% of the U.S. diet and have been associated with a host of chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. I am all for getting artificial food dyes out of the food supply, said Marion Nestle, a food policy expert. They are strictly cosmetic, have no health or safety purpose, are markers of ultraprocessed foods and may be harmful to some children. The cautionary tale of Trix cereal Color is powerful driver of consumer behavior and changes can backfire, Giusti noted. In 2016, food giant General Mills removed artificial dyes from Trix cereal after requests from consumers, switching to natural sources including turmeric, strawberries and radishes. But the cereal lost its neon colors, resulting in more muted huesand a consumer backlash. Trix fans said they missed the bright colors and familiar taste of the cereal. In 2017, the company switched back. When its a product you already love, thatyoure used to consuming, and it changes slightly, then it may not really be the same experience, Giusti said. Announcing a regulatory change is one step, but then the implementation is another thing. Kennedy, the health secretary, said U.S. officials have an understanding with food companies to phase out artificial colors. Industry officials told The Associated Press that there is no formal agreement. However, several companies have said they plan to accelerate a shift to natural colors in some of their products. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said most of its products are already free of artificial colors, and that its Lays and Tostitos brands will phase them out by the end of this year. He said the company plans to phase out artificial colorsor at least offer consumers a natural alternativeover the next few years. Representatives for General Mills said theyre committed to continuing the conversation with the administration. WK Kellogg officials said they are reformulating cereals used in the nations school lunch programs to eliminate the artificial dyes and will halt any new products containing them starting next January. Sensient officials wouldnt confirm which companies are seeking help making the switch, but they said theyre ready for the surge. Now that theres a date, theres the timeline, Manning said. It certainly requires action. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Jonel Aleccia, AP health writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report.
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Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Zillow economists use an economic model known as the Zillow Market Heat Index to gauge the competitiveness of housing markets across the country. This model looks at key indicatorsincluding home price changes, inventory levels, and days on marketto generate a score showing whether a housing market favors sellers or buyers. Higher scores point to hotter, seller-friendly metro housing markets. Lower scores signal cooler markets where buyers hold more negotiating power. According to Zillow, a score of 70 or above means it’s a “strong sellers market,” and a score from 55 to 69 is “sellers market.” A score from 44 to 55 indicates a “neutral market.” Meanwhile, a score from 28 to 44 is a “buyers market” and 27 or below is a “strong buyers market.” Nationally, Zillow rates the U.S. housing market at 55 in its February 2025 reading, published in March 2025. That said, Zillows reading varies significantly across the county. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}(); Among the 250 largest metro area housing markets, these 10 are the hottest markets, where sellers have the most power: Rochester, NY: 185 rating Buffalo, NY: 128 Syracuse, NY: 102 Hartford, CT: 99 Charleston, WV: 97 Albany, NY: 95 Manchester, NH: 92 Ann Arbor, MI: 92 Poughkeepsie, NY: 91 Boston, MA: 89 And these are the 10 coldest markets, where buyers have the most power: Jackson, TN: 16 rating Gulfport, MS: 24 Brownsville, TX: 26 Macon, GA: 26 Daphne, AL: 27 Beaumont, TX: 28 Naples, FL: 28 Cape Coral, FL: 30 Panama City, FL: 30 Punta Gorda, FL: 32 Directionally, I believe Zillow has correctly identified many regional housing markets where buyers have gained the most powerparticularly around the Gulfas well as markets where sellers have maintained (relatively speaking) somewhat of a grip, including large portions of the Northeast and Midwest. Based on my personal housing analysis, I consider Southwest Florida the weakest/softest chunk of the U.S. housing market, followed by Texas markets around Austin and San Antonio. What did this Zillow analysis look like back in spring 2022 at the climax of the pandemic housing boom? Below is Zillows March 2022 readingpublished in April 2022.
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A Texas judge earlier this month threw out a federal rule that would have capped credit card late fees at $8. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau finalized the rule last year as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to do away with what it called junk fees. It was paused by the courts before it could take effect. At the time, the CFPB estimated that American families would have saved more than $10 billion in late fees annually had the fees been capped at $8, significantly less than the $32 average. Banks and industry groups argued that the rule didn’t allow card issuers to charge fees high enough to deter late payments and discourage repeat violations. The Texas judge’s ruling earlier this month came a day after a collection of major industry groups and the CFPB under President Donald Trump announced that they had reached an agreement to throw out the rule. Here’s what to know about credit card late fees: What is the average credit card late fee? The average late fee for major issuers has steadily ticked up since the 2010s, going from $23 at the end of 2010 to $32 in 2022, according to the CFPB. WalletHub, which tracks financial data, found the average late fee in 2025 to be $30.50, with the maximum $41. A September 2023 Consumer Reports study estimated that 1 in 5 American adults, or about 52 million people, paid a credit card late fee in the previous year. People with lower incomes pay proportionately bigger fees, according to the CFPB, with the highest burden falling on communities of color and those living paycheck to paycheck. How can consumers avoid the fees? Enrolling in auto-pay for your credit cards can help you avoid making late payments, and there are some credit cards that don’t charge late fees at all (though it’s important to note that these cards may have other fee or penalty structures, or higher interest rates.) Citi Simplicity and the Apple card do not currently charge late fees, and Discover offers a card that will automatically waive the first late fee. It’s also possible to appeal credit card late fees charged by your credit card company by calling them directly. The companies will often reverse the fees, especially if it’s your first late payment. You may also want to consider making payments on your credit card balances during the month. That means you’ll have paid more of the balance by the time the amount comes due, and keeping your balance low relative to your credit limit can improve your credit score. If you’re having trouble making ends meet, you can ask your credit issuers about hardship programs. These are typically available to people affected by job loss, illness or medical conditions, natural disasters, or other emergencies. What was the CFPB credit card late fee cap rule about? Concerned that credit card companies were building a business model based on high penalties, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act), which banned the companies from charging excessive late fees and established clearer disclosures and consumer protections. In 2010, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors voted to issue a regulation implementing the CARD Act, which said that banks could only charge fees to recover costs associated with late payment. However, the rule included an immunity provision that let some banks charge $25 for the first late payment and $35 for subsequent late payments, adjusted for inflation each year. Those amounts subsequently grew to $30 and $41. After a review of market data, the CFPB finalized a rule that would have capped late fees at $8 and ended automatic inflation adjustments. Based on records analyzed by the CFPB, a late fee of $8 would be sufficient for card issuers, on average, to cover collection costs incurred as a result of late payments. How have banking groups responded to the court decision? Industry groups, including the Consumer Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others, said they welcomed the court’s decision eliminating the cap. The groups said that the rule would have led to higher interest rates and reduced credit access for card holders. The groups also said the rule would have reduced important incentives for consumers to manage their finances. The CFPB has estimated that banks bring in roughly $14 billion in credit card late fees a year. How have consumer advocates responded? Horacio Méndez, president and CEO of Woodstock Institute, an organization for advancing economic equity, called the ruling a devastating blow. By tossing out the CFPBs common-sense rule to cap these predatory late fees some as high as $41 a federal judge is putting corporations over the lives of everyday consumers,” he said. The CFPBs rule was borne out of clear evidence: the credit card industry was using inflated late fees as a profit engine, forcing families with the least financial cushion to pay. Méndez said that while consumers have come to expect fees for services, those fees needn’t be punitive to be effective. ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. Cora Lewis, Associated Press
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