The Food and Drug Administration approved a new blue color additive on Monday. 

The dye is derived from the fruit of the gardenia and has been used in sports drinks, soft drinks, and candy. It is made by refining the compound genipin and reacting it with soy protein hydrolysate.

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The Gardenia Blue Interest Group, which petitioned the government to approve the dye, has asked the FDA to make an exemption for the dye from being labeled as an allergen due to the soy protein. Soy is a common allergen that must be reported on a nutrition label.

The group claims the soy protein is not in the final color additive and does not cause allergic reactions. The FDA is reviewing the request. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has rallied against artificial food dyes, hailed the approval. Removing artificial dyes from food has been a pillar of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” base.

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“Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Kennedy said in a news release. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”

HHS under Kennedy has approved three other new food dyes. In May, the FDA approved galdieria extract blue, calcium phosphate (white), and butterfly pea flower extract (blues, purples, and greens).