Iconic snack set for major change after pressure from RFK Jr
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Slim Jims — the iconic spicy, dried meat stick— are set for a major recipe overhaul. The company that makes them said it is removing all artificial dyes from its products by 2027 amid pressure from health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Chicago-based Conagra Brands said Birds Eye frozen vegetables, Orville Redenbacher popcorn and Duncan Hines baking products will also be affected by the change.
The coloring agents will likely be replaced with natural ingredients such turmeric or beet juice, which could change the look, change and texture of many iconic foods. The announcement follows similar plans from brands like Nestle, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, many of whom have said they also won't launch any new products with artificial dyes. Health officials have long called for the removal of dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 over concerns of hyperactivity and conditions like ADHD in children.
Some studies have also linked them to cancer in animals and hormonal issues. Conagra said in its annoucement Wednesday it will remove all dyes from its frozen foods by the end of 2025 and stop selling products with artificial dyes in schools by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
By the end of 2027, it will fully discontinue use of synthetic dyes from all of its products. RFK Jr has outlined plans to strip eight petrolium-based dyes from the US food supply during his tenure as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Slim Jims don't specifically say on the packaging that they contain artificial dyes, though it's possible other additives like sodium nitrite could be removed. The push comes amid concerns in recent years over health effects of artificial dyes, including animal studies suggesting they can cause hyperactivity , cancer and other health problems.
With a recipe change could also come differences in color, texture and taste, though it's unclear how subtle the shifts will be. Conagra said many of its products already use natural alternatives like turmeric and annatto, especially in items like pickles, frozen vegetables and popcorn.
However, products like Duncan Hines frosting and Swiss Miss pudding still contain Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1. Tom McCough, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Conagra Brands, said in a statement: 'Conagra Brands is known for innovating delicious, on-trend foods, and our transition away from FD&C colors is just one aspect of our broader strategy to modernize our portfolio to align with consumer preferences.
'Our leading portfolio of frozen brands, including Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's and more, will be 100% free from FD&C colors by the end of 2025.' Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in children.
The FDA has maintained that the approved dyes are safe and that 'the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.' The agency currently allows 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes.
However, it announced in January that Red 3 — used in candies, cakes and some medications — would be banned in food by 2027 because it caused cancer in laboratory rats. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting the use of artificial colors in foods. FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary announced in April that the agency will phase out the use of eight artificial food dyes in America's food supply within the next two years.
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