Back in April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year — a move that further enforces Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ongoing efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Although the agency and the food industry don’t have a “formal agreement” to remove artificial dyes, several major companies have recently decided to remove such additives from their products in the coming years. Quietly but collectively, Big Food seems to be preparing for a future with fewer neon-colored snacks and fewer ingredients pulled from a chemical lab.
From school lunch nuggets to iconic candies, here’s a look at the big names removing artificial dyes from their shelves — and what’s driving the change.
PepsiCo
The company’s big name snack brands, like Lays and Tostitos, will stop using artificial colors by the end of this year. At an April 24 earnings call, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the transition is underway, with more than 60 percent of its business already lacking artificial color at the time.
“We obviously stand by the science and our products are very safe and there’s nothing to worry about this,” Laguarta told investors. “Ideally, we can do this in a very pragmatic, orchestrated way as an industry and not create unnecessary panic or chaos. But, we’ll lead that transition.”
Per a USA Today report, Laguarta said PepsiCo will also “lead an anticipated consumer demand for more natural ingredients as it has with sodium and sugar reduction and better fats.”
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods has been “proactively reformulating” food products that contain petroleum-based synthetic dyes, Reuters reported in May. The company said it plans to eliminate these dyes from its production process by the end of May.
CEO Donnie King said in an earnings call that most of Tyson’s retail-branded products do not contain artificial dyes. Tyson products offered in school nutrition programs also don’t include any petroleum-based synthetic dyes, King added.
“The vast majority of our retail-branded Tyson products, including our Tyson Dino Nuggets, Tyson Chicken Nuggets, Tyson Chicken Bites and Jimmy Dean Maple Griddle Cakes, do not contain any of these types of dyes, and we have been proactively reformulating those few products that do,” King said.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club said it will get rid of more than 40 ingredients from its private label brand, Member’s Mark, by the end of this year.
“We take pride in the high-quality ingredients that go into our products, but what truly differentiates us are the ingredients we consciously leave out,” Julie Barber, chief merchant at Sam’s Club, said, per KNWA news. “Our ‘Made Without’ commitment underscores our aspiration to be members’ go-to destination for quality at a disruptive value. For us, it’s about listening to our members and providing the items that resonate with their lifestyles.”
In addition to eliminating certified synthetic colors, Sam’s Club plans to remove aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose polyester and more additives as part of its “Made Without” initiative.
The warehouse retail chain said it has released cookies and additional snacks without artificial colors.
Mars, Inc.
The candymaker announced in late May that it would no longer use titanium dioxide, a potentially carcinogenic additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022, to make Skittles in the U.S. Mars said in 2016 that it would stop using “all artificial colours” in its foods, but failed to remove titanium dioxide from its food products within a timely manner despite an agreement with Center for Food Safety and consumer advocacy groups.
General Mills
General Mills announced in June that it would remove “certified colors” from all of its food products by the end of 2027. The company noted that about 85% of its U.S. products are already made without the harmful dyes. Additionally, “nearly all” of its food products offered in school nutrition programs are already free of artificial dyes.
“Across the long arc of our history, General Mills has moved quickly to meet evolving consumer needs, and reformulating our product portfolio to remove certified colors is yet another example,” said General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening.
Kraft Heinz
In a June 17 press release, Kraft Heinz — the food and beverage manufacturer of several fan-favorite products, including Kraft Mac and Cheese, Heinz ketchup, Jell-O and Kool-Aid — said it would eliminate all artificial dyes used in its products by the end of 2027. The company specified that “nearly 90 percent” of its U.S. products are already free of synthetic color additives, also known as FD&C colors. For the remaining 10 percent of products, Kraft Heinz has “invested significant resources” and mobilized a team to remove colors that aren’t critical to the consumer experience, replace FD&C colors with natural substitutes and reinvent new colors that don’t have natural alternatives.
“As a food company with a 150+ year heritage, we are continuously evolving our recipes, products, and portfolio to deliver superiority to consumers and customers,” said Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz. “The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we’ve been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio.
“In fact, we removed artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors from our beloved Kraft Mac & Cheese back in 2016. Our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup has never had artificial dyes — the red color comes simply from the world’s best tomatoes. Above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable, and great-tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don’t take lightly.”
Kraft Heinz’s decision was praised by Kennedy, who called it a “voluntary step” that “proves that when the government sets clear, science-based standards, the food industry listens and acts.”
“I urge more companies to follow this lead and put the well-being of American families first,” Kennedy concluded his post to X. “Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.”
Conagra Brands
The parent company of Duncan Hines, Reddi-wip and Slim Jim announced that it will remove artificial colors from its frozen foods by the end of this year. Conagra also won’t offer products containing artificial dyes to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year and plans to eliminate such dyes entirely by the end of 2027.
Duncan Hines’ Comstock County Cherry pie filling and its Creamy Strawberries n’ Cream Frosting still contain artificial colors, including Red 40 and Yellow 5, News Nation reported. Conagra’s Swiss Miss Butterscotch pudding contains Yellow 6, Red 40 and Blue 1.
Nestle
The company said it will remove artificial dyes from its U.S. food and beverages by the middle of 2026, according to The Associated Press. Nestle said it’s been removing such dyes from its products over the last decade, with 90% of its U.S. products not containing synthetic colors. The brand’s Nesquik Banana Strawberry milk still contains Red No. 3, which the FDA has urged food companies to phase out by the end of next year.
“Serving and delighting people is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make,” Nestle’s U.S. CEO Marty Thompson said in a statement.
J.M. Smucker
J.M. Smucker Co. announced that it would remove artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027. The company sait it would also remove artificial dyes from food products sold to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
Products like sugar-free jams and ice cream toppings still contain such additives, Smucker said. The company specified that most of its products, including its Uncrustables sandwiches, are already free of artificial dyes.
Some products from Hostess, which Smucker acquired in 2023, contain artificial colors. They include items like Twinkies (made with Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5) and Snoballs snack cakes (made with Red No. 40 Lake).
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