Additional Coverage:
- Popular Foods That Will No Longer Have Artificial Colors (blog.cheapism.com)
Say Goodbye to Rainbow-Colored Treats? Food Giants Ditch Artificial Dyes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., is taking aim at synthetic food dyes. While a complete ban isn’t in place yet, the FDA’s April announcement signaling a phase-out by 2026 has spurred major food manufacturers to act.
Many companies, already adhering to similar bans overseas, are proactively eliminating artificial dyes to preempt future regulations and maintain a positive relationship with the government. Here’s a rundown of who’s going dye-free and which popular products are affected:
Kraft Heinz: Pledging to eliminate artificial dyes from all products by the end of 2027, Kraft Heinz is also halting the introduction of any new products containing these dyes. The company plans to either remove colors where they aren’t essential to the consumer experience, use natural replacements, or develop new color options. While iconic products like Heinz ketchup have always been artificial-dye-free, and Kraft Mac & Cheese went dye-free in 2016, products like Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, and Jet-Puffed are among those slated for reformulation.
General Mills: Aiming to remove artificial dyes from all U.S. cereals and K-12 school products by summer 2026, General Mills plans to extend this to all U.S. products by the end of 2027. With approximately 85% of their products already free of artificial dyes, the transition should be relatively smooth. Popular brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury, Trix, Betty Crocker, and Lucky Charms are among those included in the initiative.
Conagra: Conagra is taking a tiered approach, removing artificial dyes from frozen foods by the end of 2024, K-12 school products by the 2026-2027 school year, and all U.S. products by the end of 2027. Brands like Marie Callender’s, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Duncan Hines, and Snack Pack are among those affected.
Nestlé USA: Nestlé USA is adopting an aggressive timeline, aiming to eliminate artificial dyes from all U.S. products by mid-2026. With over 90% of their products already dye-free, the company is well on its way. Brands like Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine, DiGiorno, Hot Pockets, and Nesquik are included in this commitment.
PepsiCo: While PepsiCo hasn’t announced a firm completion date, they’ve confirmed the phase-out of artificial colors in all U.S. food products. Lay’s and Tostitos will be dye-free by the end of 2024, joining the more than 60% of PepsiCo products already free of synthetic dyes. Brands like Doritos, Cheetos, Mountain Dew, Ruffles, and Gatorade are also slated for eventual reformulation.
Holdouts on the Dye-Free Front: Not everyone is embracing the shift. Candy companies like Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, are resisting change, arguing that American consumers prefer vibrant candies and that natural dyes are more expensive. Until government regulations mandate a change, these companies are likely to retain their colorful confections.
Read More About This Story:
- Popular Foods That Will No Longer Have Artificial Colors (blog.cheapism.com)