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Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kraft Heinz, General Mills to remove all artificial dyes from food products
Kraft Heinz, manufacturer of beloved food and drink products from the classic Kraft Mac and Cheese and Heinz ketchup to Kool-Aid and Jell-O, will eliminate the use of all artificial dyes in its products by the end of 2027, the company announced Tuesday. In a June 17 press release, the company said "nearly" 90% of its products were already free of Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors, also known as artificial or synthetic food dyes, and that it would be removing them from the remaining 10% of its products. The manufacturer also said it would not launch any new products using the dyes, effective immediately. The FD&C dyes in question have been and still are allowed for use in food and drink products under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. However, an announcement from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr in April indicated the agency is looking to revoke the approval of at least eight "petroleum-based synthetic dyes" in favor of "natural alternatives." Before the end of 2027, Kraft Heinz intends to replace the dyes with natural alternatives or "reinvent" new colors and shades for products where natural replacement color matches are not available. "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,' Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement. '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." Kennedy praised the move on a June 17 post to X, formerly Twitter, saying this "voluntary step" will phase out "harmful dyes" in brands like Kool-Aid, Jell-O and Crystal Light. General Mills also announced plans Tuesday to remove "certified colors" from all of its products by the end of 2027, likewise saying that about 85% of its U.S. products are already made without the dyes. It also said that "nearly all" of its school offerings are already free of artificial coloring "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," CEO Jeff Harmening said in a statement on June 17. Are food dyes getting banned in the US?: What know to about 8 dyes being phased out Is the US banning artificial food dyes? The FDA announced on April 22 that it will "phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation's food supply" by the end of 2026. The dyes have previously been allowed under FDA regulations and oversight. The targeted additives include Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5, Yellow Dye 6, Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3, Citrus Red 2 and Orange B. No formal agreement or legislation was passed officially banning the substances. Instead, HHS and the FDA have a "mutual understanding" with the food industry that the dyes will be progressively removed, Kennedy said at the time. During an April 22 press conference, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency intends to revoke the approval of some dyes for use and work with industry leaders to substitute petrochemical dyes with "natural" ones. A press statement released by the FDA also said it plans to establish a "national standard and timeline for the transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives." The FDA will authorize four new natural color additives and expedite the approval of more, according to its statement. The agency will also partner with the National Institutes of Health to research the effect food additives have on children's health and development. Other companies promise to eliminate artificial dyes Several major food and beverage companies have recently announced their plans to remove ingredients in the wake of the April HHS announcement. At an April 24 earnings call, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company's transition away from artificial colors was underway, with more than 60 percent of its business already in compliance. Popular snack brands under its portfolio like Lays, Doritos and Tostitos, will stop using artificial colors by the end of the year under the directive. Tyson Foods made a similar promise in May, telling Reuters it was "proactively reformulating" products to eliminate the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of the month. Mars, Inc., the producer of Skittles, also announced in late May that it would be removing titanium dioxide from the colorful candy. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kraft Heinz, General Mills to remove artificial dyes by end of 2027 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kraft Heinz products getting no-dye makeover
Condiment giant Kraft Heinz said it won't add artificial coloring to any new product it launches in the U.S., starting now. And in compliance with plans by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the company hopes to get rid of all artificial dyes in U.S.-sold products before 2028. The announcement was made Tuesday morning in a news release that said nearly 90% of the company's products in the U.S. are already free of artificial colors, which are called 'Food, Drug & Cosmetic' colors by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For the products that do contain artificial coloring, the company said it has 'invested significant resources, mobilizing a team to address this complex challenge with a three-pronged approach': Kraft Heinz is removing colors 'not critical to the consumer experience.' It's replacing artificial colors with natural colors. For its third alternative, the company is 'reinventing new colors and shades where matching natural colors are not available.' Kraft Heinz brands include Jell-O, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Capri Sun, Kool-Aid, Grey Poupon, Honig, Oscar Mayer, Classico, Lunchables and Quero, among others. Pedro Navio, North America president of Kraft Heinz, said in the release that the company is more than 150 years old and its product line and recipes are always 'evolving.' He noted they took the artificial colors, preservatives and flavors out of their Kraft Mac & Cheese in 2016. 'Our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup has never had artificial dyes — the red color comes simply from the world's best tomatoes," he said. The company also emphasized how much of its product line comes from U.S. sources. 'Today, Kraft Heinz sources the most tomatoes in the U.S., all grown in California for products like Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Claussen pickles (cucumbers) are grown in Ohio and Michigan; Ore-Ida potatoes are grown in Idaho; the dairy for Philadelphia cream cheese comes from farms in Upstate New York,' per the release. Other companies are also eliminating artificial dyes. Reuters reported those include W.K. Kellogg and Tyson Foods, which 'have been working on reformulating existing products and introducing new items without artificial dyes.' The article added that Walmart-owned Sam's Club announced earlier this month that it was getting rid of 40 ingredients, 'including artificial colors and aspartame,' from its Member's Mark brands by the end of 2025. States are also taking steps. California, West Virginia and Virginia have said no to artificial dyes in food. And the Environmental Working Group has reported that dozens of other states are looking at banning artificial coloring and different additives, as well. Deseret News reported in April that Kennedy was going to ban eight petroleum-based artificial food dyes from use in the American food supply. He said they would be eliminated within the next two years. The announcement, made by video, told food manufacturers to choose natural alternatives. In the video, Kennedy said wryly that if people want to consume petroleum, 'they should add it themselves at home.' Per Deseret News, 'Kennedy is focusing on the other eight artificial food dyes, which the Center for Science in the Public Interest calls 'a rainbow of risks.' Those eight are Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2, Citrus Red No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6." The FDA had already said to stop using red dye No. 3. Authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B are soon to be revoked, which will also happen to the remaining six petroleum-based dyes by year's end. The driving force behind the ban has been health risk, with some research linking several of the dyes to possible tumor development and neurotoxicity in animal studies. There have been reported worries that had potential risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as Deseret News reported. There are also concerns the dyes could increase the risk of certain cancers. Food manufacturers have said there's not strong evidence of health risks, but Kennedy's team has countered that any risk isn't worth it. And other countries are also taking steps. Per The New York Times, Froot Loops in Canada are colored by blueberries and carrots, while the U.S. version is colored by Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Blue No. 1. Many artificial dyes in food are banned in the European Union. CNN reported that Kraft Heinz's action 'may push rivals to speed up efforts to phase out artificial coloring.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heinz Makes Final Decision on Controversial Ingredient
The Kraft Heinz Company is the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world, with a number of products under its name. Some of these products include Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, Jell-O, Capri Sun, Kraft Mac and Cheese and Lunchables, among plenty of others. But Kraft Heinz is set to make a big change by the time 2027 ends. On Tuesday, the company announced it will remove food dyes from its products by the end of 2027, in an official release from the company. "Today, the Kraft Heinz Company announced it will not launch any new products with Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors, effective immediately. The Company also announced it will remove the remaining FD&C colors from its product portfolio before the end of 2027." The release says that 90% of the products are already free from the FD&C colors, but the company will work towards getting rid of the remaining ones within the next couple of years. Pedro Navio, the North American President at Kraft Heinz, released a statement on the decision: '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." Recently, concerns have grown that FD&C is harmful in products. The US FDA says that "FD&C Yellow No. 5 may cause itching and hives in some people," but also clarifies that reactions are rare. Nonetheless, Kraft Heinz is making the change to its Makes Final Decision on Controversial Ingredient first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2025
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kraft Heinz pulling artificial dyes from its US products in 2027
Kraft Heinz will be pulling artificial dyes from its U.S. products starting in 2027 and will no longer roll out new products with the dyes. The move comes nearly two months after US health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the nation's food supply. Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that almost 90 per cent of its US products already don't contain food, drug & cosmetic colors, but that the products that do still use the dyes will have them removed by the end of 2027. FD&C colors are synthetic additives that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in food, drugs and cosmetics. Kraft Heinz said that many of its US products that still use the FD&C colors are in its beverage and desserts categories, including certain products sold under brands including Crystal Light, Kool Aid, Jell-O and Jet Puffed. The company said that it will instead use natural colors for the products. "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," Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement. Kraft Heinz stripped artificial colors, flavors and preservatives from its macaroni and cheese in 2016 and said it has never used artificial dyes in its ketchup. The company plans to work with licensees of its brands to encourage them to remove the dyes. In April Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference that the agency would take steps to eliminate the synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some 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 FDA currently allows 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency announced that the dye known as Red 3 - used in candies, cakes and some medications - would be banned in food by 2027 because it caused cancer in laboratory rats. Artificial dyes are used widely in US foods. In Canada and in Europe - where synthetic colors are required to carry warning labels - manufacturers mostly use natural substitutes. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting the use of artificial colors in foods. Many US food companies are already reformulating their foods, according to Sensient Colors, one of the world's largest producers of food dyes and flavorings. In place of synthetic dyes, foodmakers can use natural hues made from beets, algae and crushed insects and pigments from purple sweet potatoes, radishes and red cabbage.>
Global News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Kraft, General Mills set to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products
Two major food producers say that they will be pulling artificial dyes from their U.S. products starting in 2027. The shift comes nearly two months after U.S. health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colours. Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it will be removing artificial dyes from its U.S. products beginning in 2027 and will no longer roll out new products with the dyes. Hours later, General Mills announced that it plans to remove artificial dyes from all of its U.S. cereals and all foods served in K-12 schools by the summer of 2026. It is also looking to eliminate the dyes from its full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027. Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that almost 90% of its U.S. products already don't contain food, drug & cosmetic colours, but that the products that do still use the dyes will have them removed by the end of 2027. FD&C colours are synthetic additives that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food, drugs and cosmetics. Story continues below advertisement Kraft Heinz said that many of its U.S. products that still use the FD&C colours are in its beverage and desserts categories, including certain products sold under brands including Crystal Light, Kool Aid, Jell-O and Jet Puffed. The company said that it will instead use natural colours for the products. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The vast majority of our products use natural or no colours, and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colours across the remainder of our portfolio,' Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement. Kraft Heinz stripped artificial colours, flavors and preservatives from its macaroni and cheese in 2016 and said it has never used artificial dyes in its ketchup. 3:02 Health Matters: U.S. to phase out many synthetic food dyes The company plans to work with licensees of its brands to encourage them to remove the dyes. Story continues below advertisement General Mills said that the changes it is making only impacts a small portion of its K-12 school business as almost all of its school items are already made without artificial dyes. In addition, 85% of the company's U.S. foods that are sold retail are already made without 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 colours is yet another example,' Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening said in a statement. In April Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference that the agency would take steps to eliminate the synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some 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 colour additives.' The FDA currently allows 36 food colour additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency announced that the dye known as Red 3 — used in candies, cakes and some medications — would be banned in food by 2027 because it caused cancer in laboratory rats. Story continues below advertisement Artificial dyes are used widely in U.S. foods. In Canada and in Europe — where synthetic colours are required to carry warning labels — manufacturers mostly use natural substitutes. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting the use of artificial colours in foods. Many U.S. food companies are already reformulating their foods, according to Sensient Colors, one of the world's largest producers of food dyes and flavorings. In place of synthetic dyes, foodmakers can use natural hues made from beets, algae and crushed insects and pigments from purple sweet potatoes, radishes and red cabbage.
