Factbox-Food companies to phase out artificial dyes, sweeteners in health drive​​

(Reuters) – U.S. packaged food makers have rolled out plans to eliminate the use of ingredients such as FD&C colors — a category of synthetic dyes — and sweeteners like corn syrup from their products, responding to the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative and changing consumer preferences.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary had said in April the agency aims to remove ingredients, including artificial food colors against the backdrop of mounting concerns about their potential links to health issues such as ADHD, obesity and diabetes.

Kennedy has also criticized excessive sugar consumption in the American diet, saying the updated dietary guidelines released this summer will encourage a shift toward whole foods.

Here are the companies that are preparing to eliminate synthetic dyes and artificial sweeteners from their food products in the U.S.

Company Comment Target Year

Mars To introduce In 2026

products made

without artificial

colors that will be

available in the

U.S. across its

gum, fruity

confection and

chocolate candy

categories from

brands including

Extra, Skittles,

Starburst and

M&M’s.

Hershey Plans to remove End of 2027

synthetic dyes from

snacks.

J.M. Smucker Smucker said it End of 2027

would remove

synthetic food

colors from all

consumer food

products, and that

it is working to

stop selling

products with

synthetic dyes to

K-12 schools by the

2026-2027 school

year.

Conagra Brands Will remove End of 2027

synthetic dyes from

U.S. frozen product

portfolio and

eliminate using

artificial colors

in food served to

K-12 schools by

2026-27.

Nestle USA To fully eliminate Mid-2026

synthetic food

colors from its

U.S. food and

beverage portfolio.

Over 90% of current

categories already

dye-free, the

company said.

General Mills Cheerios maker will End of 2027

remove artificial

colors from its

entire U.S. retail

business and

eliminate the use

of synthetic dyes

from all its U.S.

cereals and foods

served in K-12

schools by summer

2026.

Kraft Heinz Will End of 2027

not launch new

products with

artificial colors

in the U.S. and

aims to eliminate

synthetic dyes from

existing items.

Sam’s Club Walmart-owned Sam’s End of 2025

Club will eliminate

over 40

ingredients,

including

artificial colors

and aspartame, from

private label brand

Member’s Mark.

Tyson Foods Company said it End of May, 2025

will reformulate  

food products  

containing  

petroleum-based  

synthetic dyes.  

   

Company said it By the end of 2025

will stop using

high fructose corn

syrup, sucralose,

BHA/BHT and

titanium dioxide in

its branded

products in U.S.

WK Kellogg Will remove FD&C By the end of 2027

colors from foods

that contain them

by the end of 2027,

and will not launch

new products with

the colors from

January 2026.

Reformulating

cereals served in

schools to exclude

synthetic dyes.

PepsiCo Will remove By next couple of

artificial colors years

from K-12 schools

food portfolio,

starting this

upcoming school

season. To migrate

the portfolio to

natural colors or

at least provide

the consumer with

natural color

options.

 

Company said it

will use sugar in

its products like

Pepsi beverages if

consumers want it.

Coca-Cola  Company to  

introduce a

cane-sugar

sweetened version

of Coke in U.S.

Kellanova     On track to remove By December 31,

synthetic colors 2027

from U.S. K-12  

foods within the  

2026/27 school year  

and from retail

foods by 2027-end.

Campbell’s Co   Will eliminate all By mid- 2026

FD&C colors from  

its food and  

beverage products

in second half of

fiscal year 2026.

Walmart   Will eliminate all By January  2027

synthetic dyes and

more than 30 other

ingredients like

preservatives,

artificial

sweeteners and fat

substitutes from

its U.S. private

brand foods by

January 2027.

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(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry, Neil J Kanatt, Savyata Mishra and Anshi Sancheti in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Shilpi Majumdar)