Kraft Heinz to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products by end of 2027
The company said in a release that about 10% of its U.S. items use FD&C colors, the synthetic additives that make many foods more visually appealing. Kraft Heinz brands that sell products with these dyes include Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, MiO, Jell-O and Jet-Puffed, according to a Kraft Heinz spokesperson.
The company removed artificial colors, preservatives and flavors from its Kraft macaroni and cheese in 2016 and its Heinz ketchup has never used artificial dyes, according to Pedro Navio, North America president at Kraft Heinz. It is unclear how removing the dyes will affect the company's business, as consumers could perceive the products as healthier but also may be less drawn to duller colors.
The decision follows pressure from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for the food industry to pull back on artificial dyes as part of a larger so-called Make America Healthy Again platform.
The FDA in April announced a plan to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year and replace them with natural alternatives. Besides the previously banned Red No. 3, other dyes that will be eliminated include red dye 40, yellow dye 5, yellow dye 6, blue dye 1, blue dye 2 and green dye 2, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at the time.
Kennedy said at the time that the FDA and the food industry have 'an understanding,' not a formal agreement, to remove artificial dyes. The Health and Human Services secretary discussed removing artificial food dyes during a meeting in March with top food executives from companies including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo North America, General Mills, WK Kellogg, Tyson Foods, J.M. Smucker and the Consumer Brands Association, the industry's top trade group.
A spokesperson for Kraft Heinz said on Tuesday that the company looks forward to partnering with the administration 'to provide quality, affordable, and wholesome food for all.'
Momentum against food dyes had been building for years. In January, before President Donald Trump and Kennedy took office, the FDA announced a ban on the use of Red No. 3 dye in food and ingested drugs. The dye gives many candies and cereals their bright red color, but is also known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The FDA allowed Red No. 3 to be used by food manufacturers for years, though the state of California had already banned the dye in 2023.
Kraft Heinz said in the release Tuesday that it has made more than 1,000 recipe changes over the past five years to improve product nutrition.
'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,' Navio said. '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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Daily Mail reveals the week's most dangerous recalls... the products that could put your life at risk
Cookies, cheese and even hair products have been recalled this week over fears of injury, bacteria and rodent contamination. The FDA announced the recalls, all of which are still in effect and eligible for refunds. In one case, chocolate cookies were recalled due to the presence of undeclared wheat, which could sicken millions of Americans with allergies and celiac disease. Over 45,000 pairs of heated socks were also pulled from stores due to reports of customers suffering burns and blisters. And instant coffee sold at Dollar General stores nationwide was found to contain pieces of glass, which could tear holes in the throat and intestines, leading to deadly infections. One facility even had rodent activity, which raised bacteria risk. Several products were also found to contain potentially deadly bacteria like listeria and salmonella. Neuhaus Chocolates this week recalled its Belgian Chocolate Moments Smurfs Popping Milk Chocolates with Cookies because they contained wheat, which was not on the ingredient label. The cookies were distributed to unspecified retail stores in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington DC. They were also sold online at the Neuhaus website. They were distributed between July 21 and August 4, and each box had a sell-by date of January 13, 2026. Only 150 boxes have been sold, the FDA said, and no illnesses have been reported. The recall was initiated after Neuhaus staff conducting an internal check found products containing wheat were distributed in packaging that did not include the ingredient on its label. Further investigations showed the problem was caused by a combination of circumstances in which the company's internal software did not include the allergen on the packaging. Fieldsheer Apparel Technologies heated socks Fieldsheer Apparel Technologies voluntarily recalled about 45,000 pairs of its heated merino wool socks after receiving multiple reports of injuries, including burns and blisters. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission warned the socks 'can cause pain and discomfort resulting in burns and blisters when worn during high-intensity activities that generate a combination of heat, excessive friction, moisture and pressure, posing an injury hazard.' The agency has received 11 reports of pain and discomfort to date. Of those, four were for blisters and burns. The three models of recalled socks were MWMS05, MWMS07 and MWWS07. Each pair of socks was packaged with two lithium-ion battery packs and a charging cable. The socks were sold at major retailers including Home Depot, Meijer and online at Amazon from August 2021 through June 2025 and cost between $80 to $130. Customers who bought the recalled socks are urged to not discard the lithium-ion batteries in regular trash or recycling bins due to the risk of fire. The batteries should instead be taken to a municipal hazardous waste collection site. Sefralls Minoxidil Hair Generation Serum The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday that Sefralls Minoxidil Hair Generation Serum is being recalled for not being in child-resistant packaging. The agency warned that without this packaging, children could accidentally open and consume the minoxidil-laced fluid. Just a few ounces of minoxidil, an over-the-counter medication approved by the FDA to reverse hair loss, can cause blood vessels to become dangerously relaxed, triggering extremely low blood pressure. This can cause the heart to shut down, start beating erratically or go into heart failure, and cause death. It can also pose a serious hazard to pets if ingested. No injuries have been reported to date. About 21,300 units of the product have were recalled. They were distributed throughout the US from June 2024 to June 2025. The recall is thought to affect every bottle of Sefralls Minoxidil Hair Generation Serum sold in the US. DermaRite Industries, LLC, based in New Jersey, issued an urgent recall after finding that several of its antiseptic cleansers were contaminated with the bacteria Burkholderia cepacia. It is particularly dangerous for people with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder affecting 40,000 Americans that causes severe lung damage and makes patients vulnerable to lasting infections. The FDA said: 'In healthy individuals with minor skin lesions the use of the product will more likely result in local infections, whereas in immunocompromised individuals the infection is more likely to spread into [the] blood stream leading to life-threatening sepsis.' B. cepacia resists most antibiotics, spreads easily through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing and can trigger a fast-moving, often fatal pneumonia called 'cepacia syndrome.' The products being recalled are sold under the brands DermaRite, DermaKleen, Dermasarra, Kleenfoam and Perigiene. To date, DermaRite has not received any reports of infections linked to their products and it has not been revealed how the products became contaminated. Clover Valley Instant Coffee Dollar General announced Monday its voluntary recall of Clover Valley Instant Coffee 'due to the potential presence of glass.' The product was sold and distributed in Dollar General stores in every state except Hawaii and Alaska. The units were sold and distributed between July 9 and 21, 2025. No injuries have been reported. The three recalled lots include 8-Ounce Clover Valley Instant Coffee with a package UPC of 876941004069. Best by dates include December 13, 2026 and December 14, 2026. Small pieces of glass will likely pass through the body without causing symptoms, but larger pieces or those with sharp edges can cause serious harm. If glass cuts the intestines, a person could experience a gastrointestinal perforation, which is a serious medical emergency and requires immediate surgery. It can lead to the contents of the intestines leaking into the abdominal cavity. Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies sold at Target were recalled this week over fears they contained pieces of wood. Manufacturer Good and Go pulled the cookies on July 22. The recall impacted 803 cases or around 12,000 cookies. They were shipped to three distribution centers in Ohio, Connecticut and Maryland and sold in 10-packs with a lot number 251915. Impacted cookies were sent to Target stores in 21 states, including New York, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia. While small pieces of wood can pass through the digestive tract without causing harm, larger pieces can become lodged in the throat, increasing choking risk. Wood can also tear the esophagus or intestines, leading to organ damage and infection. Wegmans and Quesito El Establo cheeses Wegmans Food Markets voluntarily recalled four of its cheese products after they were found to be at risk of containing listeria. The recall included the following products: Wegmans Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese, 8.8 oz; Wegmans Assorted Cheese Flight, 1 lb; Wegmans Grilling Camembert with Tapenade & Roasted Tomatoes, 10 oz; and Wegmans Caramel Apple Pecan Topped Brie Cheese, 13 oz. Recalled items were sold in the cheese department at all Wegmans stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington DC. They were sold between July 1 and August 12, 2025. Additionally, New Hampshire-based Quesito El Establo recalled its Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) because they were manufactured at a facility with rodents, rodent activity and other unsanitary conditions, according to an FDA investigation. The FDA warned this raised the risk of the products being contaminated with salmonella. The cheese was distributed to stores in Massachusetts targeting Hispanic and Latino customers. They all had the product code August 22, 2025, or earlier.
Western Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Check you know the bluetongue rules for livestock sales
From then, Welsh livestock that have completed a course of a bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination, are able to attend English markets within 20km of the Welsh border. Markets eligible to hold dedicated sales of vaccinated, Welsh-only livestock include Bishops Castle, Hereford, Kington, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Ross-on-Wye and Shrewsbury, and must adhere to specific conditions. Animals attending these markets and returning to Wales must also complete the movement within the same day and are subject to the conditions of a general licence. Animals cannot remain at the market overnight and these animals will not be subject to any pre- or post-movement testing requirements where all conditions have been met. Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine said: "Bluetongue is a potentially devastating disease, as has unfortunately been seen in other countries. "As part of keeping our commitment to review of our bluetongue policy, we have held regular stakeholder discussions. "From these, a phased approach to facilitate autumn sales has been agreed that balances industry needs against the risk of disease incursion. "It is important that we all recognise the implicit, and cumulative risk in progressively removing livestock restrictions, and the balance that must be struck between the ability to trade and the increased risk of disease incursion. "Through discussions the industry also fully recognises their responsibilities, including the need to ensure compliance with the requirements to attend sales and markets, the fundamental role of bluetongue vaccination – and the shared risk and consequences should bluetongue enter Wales. "With the autumn sales approaching, we are considering further adjustments to our policy, including facilitating breeding sales at 'Bluetongue Approved Green Markets' located in Wales for the sale of BTV-3 vaccinated livestock from England and Wales. These sales will be able to apply to become 'Bluetongue Approved Green Markets' from mid-September.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Officials warn the next opioid epidemic could come from substance sold at vape shops for less $10
Public health experts and officials have trained their sights on a new vape shop staple they fear could spur the next wave of the opioid epidemic. Department of Health and Human Services made a formal proposal to the DEA to classify 7-OH, a component of the pain reliever kratom, as a Schedule 1 substance, alongside heroin, LSD, and other drugs with no accepted medical use. While natural kratom contains only trace amounts of 7-OH, manufacturers have begun chemically isolating and concentrating it into a synthetic opioid-like drug estimated to be 10 to 13 times more potent than morphine. These ultra-potent extracts, often sold as gummies, shots and pills, now flood gas stations and vape shops with spotty age restrictions. FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary said: 'Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH. After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again.' The FDA's move was quickly followed by the Florida state attorney general James Uthmeier's decision to ban selling, having, or sharing 7-OH altogether, citing an 'immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.' The announcement makes Florida the first state to ban products containing 7-OH, which could set off a nationwide domino effect with more and more states following suit. 7-OH is a relative newcomer, and data on deaths are not well documented, but poison control center reports suggest it is growing rapidly more popular. The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued a warning earlier this month about it, noting 'increased call volume around both kratom and 7-OH consumption.' Pressed about 7-OH overdose risks, Makary cited scarce data and doctors' inability to identify it, while still calling the compound a 'killer,' far deadlier than plain kratom. The federal government has not tracked any deaths due to 7-OH specifically, though at least one has occurred. Matthew Torres, a 39-year-old Oregon carpenter, died from violent seizures in May 2021 after using kratom to manage chronic pain. His girlfriend found him foaming at the mouth at their Beavercreek home. The coroner ruled his death was caused by 'toxic effects of mitragynine (7-OH).' His mother Mary Torres is now pursuing a $10M wrongful death lawsuit against the smoke shop that sold it, alleging they failed to warn about risks. Jordan McKibban, 37, died in 2022 after consuming kratom powder purchased from an organic store, believing it to be a natural pain remedy. His death certificate listed 'toxic effects of mitragynine (kratom)' as the cause. Kratom has been used traditionally in Southeast Asia for centuries, and commercially sold in the US for decades as dried leaves or powders. Many states have different laws about the sale of kratom, limiting it to people either 18 and up or 21 and up. No federal age restrictions exist for 7-OH sales. Enforcement relies entirely on individual businesses. Most vendors voluntarily require ID for customers to confirm they are 18 and up or 21 and up, but this isn't mandated by law. 'We're not targeting the kratom leaf or ground-up kratom,' Makary said. 'We are targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid.' While 7-OH is naturally present in small amounts from 0.6 percent to 0.7 percent on average in kratom leaves, modern extraction techniques have made it possible to create highly concentrated products, including shots, pills, and gummies. 7-OH tablets, for example, are pre-measured dosage forms containing concentrated amounts of the compound, typically ranging from 5mg to 22mg per tablet. An FDA-led report on 7-OH cited mounting research showing the extract acts like an opioid, hijacking the same brain receptors as morphine or prescription painkillers. In multiple experiments, 7-OH triggered strong 'mu-opioid' effects, the same pathway targeted by drugs like oxycodone, often with 13 times the potency of morphine and nearly double the strength of kratom's primary compound, mitragynine. When tested on cells and animal tissue, 7-OH behaved like a full opioid agonist, meaning it does not just mildly activate these receptors; it switches them on entirely, setting the stage for repeat, problem use in the future. The FDA's report added that 7-OH's effects were reversed with the anti-overdose nasal spray naloxone. Florida AG Uthmeier cited the FDA's findings in his decision to schedule the substance. He said: 'We are taking emergency action now because we see immediate danger. Last week the FDA commissioner issued a warning about 7-OH, putting people on notice to the dangers, calling on states to observe and take action where necessary. 'So here in Florida, we are not going to rest on our laurels. We move fast. We want to help lead the way when it comes to public safety.' By designating the potent kratom extracts as Schedule I drugs, the state now ranks them alongside heroin, LSD, and illegal fentanyl, deeming them equally dangerous with zero medical value. The emergency rule grants law enforcement and regulators immediate authority to raid gas stations and smoke shops statewide, seizing the products. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, appearing alongside Uthmeier, told business owners to 'get it off your shelves.' 'We are going to be very aggressive,' he added. Makary, in turn, celebrated Uthmeier's decision in 'fighting back and educating Floridian parents, law enforcement professionals, teachers and community leaders about this threat to public health.' He added: 'I encourage other states to act now and use common sense regulation to safeguard the well-being of our youth and Make America Healthy Again.' Florida's decision to explicitly ban 7-OH is unprecedented, though several other states, including Colorado, Mississippi, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah have different restrictions on the concentration of 7-OH in the products. 'I am very supportive of people seeking alternatives outside of traditional Western medicine for wellness,' Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said. 'Our problem here is not with kratom. The problem today is with 7-OH. We don't need any more substances that disconnect people from reality.'
