Kennedy's plan to eliminate the dyes needs the food companies to go along — he doesn't appear to have an enforcement mechanism in place.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday a series of measures to phase out eight artificial food dyes.

Many health advocates are applauding HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to remove eight artificial food dyes from American products, but some Chicago-based food giants may not be on board. Why it matters: Kennedy's voluntary phase-out plan will need the cooperation of large local food players including the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT),