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  5. Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
  1. Color Additives - Information for Consumers

Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes

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On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration announced a bold national initiative to phase out petroleum-based food dyes (certified color additives) from the American food supply – marking a significant milestone in the Trump Administration's efforts to Make America Healthy Again.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas emphasize that these petroleum-based synthetic dyes offer no nutritional benefit and may pose health risks, particularly to children, citing concerns about childhood obesity, diabetes, depression, and ADHD. The initiative establishes a national standard for the food industry to transition away from petrochemical-based dyes and toward natural alternatives.

Regulatory Actions on Specific Dyes

As part of this effort, the FDA has taken direct regulatory action to remove several synthetic color additives from the market. Prior to this initiative, on January 15, 2025, the agency revoked authorization for FD&C Red No. 3. As part of this effort, the FDA has encouraged industry to remove Red No. 3 ahead of the January 15, 2027, deadline. The agency also finalized the revocation of authorization for Orange B and proposed revoking authorization for Citrus Red No. 2. Additionally, the FDA is working closely with food manufacturers, retailers, and trade associations to eliminate six remaining certified color additives frequently used in the food supply—FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.

Authorizing Natural Alternatives

To ensure manufacturers have viable substitutes, the FDA has approved new natural color additives, including calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and beetroot red. The FDA has also updated its labeling policy to give companies greater flexibility in making "no artificial colors" claims when using naturally derived colors.

Industry Response

The initiative has catalyzed significant voluntary commitments from major food companies. General Mills announced it would remove certified colors from all U.S. cereals and K–12 school foods by summer 2026. Nestlé committed to eliminating FD&C colors from its entire U.S. food and beverage portfolio by mid-2026. Conagra began a phased removal of FD&C colors from its frozen food portfolio by the end of 2025, with a full U.S. retail portfolio phase out targeted by the end of 2027.

Industry Tracker: Pledges to Remove Petroleum-Based Food Dyes

CompanyProduct(s) or Brand(s) AffectedPlanned ChangesStatus
Aramark Student NutritionNational K-12 foodservice provider in more than 350 school districts
  • Aramark Student Nutrition's updated 2026-2027 school menu program removes artificial dyes from core menu offerings across participating school districts.
Complete
Otis SpunkmeyerAll Otis Spunkmeyer branded foods
  • Eliminate FD&C colors from 100% of Otis Spunkmeyer branded foods sold in the U.S. produced after January 1, 2026.
Complete
Save A LotAll private-label products
  • Remove certified color additives from all private-label offerings, with FD&C Red No. 3 removed by the end of 2026 and remaining affected products reformulated by the end of 2027.
In progress
Amos Sweets Inc.Peelerz
  • Removal of all FD&C certified color additives from the Peelerz portfolio produced by the end of 2026
In progress
Target CorporationAll cereal sold in stores and online
  • Remove certified synthetic colors by end of May 2026
Complete
Sam's ClubMember's Mark food and beverage products
  • Eliminated certified synthetic colors/FD&C colors
Complete
Campbell'sLance Crackers, V8 Splash; regional snacks brands such as Jay's, O-Ke-Doke, Tom's; cookie brands such as Archway, Stella D'oro
  • Will no longer produce any food or beverages with FD&C colors by the second half of the 2026 fiscal year
Complete
Utz BrandsAll products
  • Will eliminate all FD&C colors from the entire product portfolio by the end of 2027.
In progress
American Bakers AssociationABA Member List
  • Eliminate the use of certified FD&C colors in all baked goods provided to K-12 schools through the National School Breakfast, Lunch, and Competitive Foods Programs by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Eliminate certified FD&C colors from baked goods across the United States by December 2028
In progress
Conagra Brands, Inc.Birds Eye®, Duncan Hines®, Marie Callender's®, Slim Jim® 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from U.S. frozen product portfolio by the end of 2025. 
  • Will not sell products with certified color additives to K-12 schools by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Discontinue the use of certified color additives across U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027. 
In progress
Consumer Brands Association (CBA)Member List
  • Stop using certified color additives for school meals by 2026 school year.
  • Encourage America's food and beverage makers to stop manufacturing with certified color additives in products by December 31, 2027. 
In progress
Danone U.S.Light + Fit Greek, YoCrunch
  • Eliminate certified color additives from U.S. portfolio.
In progress
General Mills, Inc.Betty Crocker®, Bisquick®, Chex® Cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Häagen-Dazs™, Pillsbury®, Progresso®, Trix®
  • Eliminate certified color additives from all U.S. cereals and all K-12 school foods by summer 2026. 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027.
In progress
Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V.ARNOLD®, Little Bites®, THOMAS'®.
  • Remove certified colors from the entire portfolio by the end of 2026. 
In progress
In-N-Out Burger®Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade
  • Eliminated certified color additives from Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade. 
Complete
International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)Specific companies not disclosed. 
  • Eliminate the use of certified color additives in milk, cheese, and yogurt products sold to K-12 schools for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs by the start of the 2026-2027 school year, or July 2026. 
  • Eliminate the use of certified artificial colors from ice cream and frozen dairy desserts by 2028.
In progress
Kellanova®Specific brands not disclosed.
  • Removing FD&C colors from U.S. K-12 foods offered in schools within the 2026/27 school year and for retail foods by December 31, 2027.
In progress
Mars, Inc.Extra®, M&M's®, SKITTLES® Original, Starburst®
  • Offer product options without certified colors starting in 2026.
Complete
McCormick & Company, Inc.FRANK'S RedHot®, French's®, McCormick®
  •  Reformulate flavors, seasonings, condiments, and spices.
In progress
McKee FoodsLittle Debbie, Sunbelt Bakery, Drake's, Fieldstone Bakery
  •  Removal of artificial dyes by the end of 2027
In progress
Nestlé USAAll products in the U.S.
  • Eliminate FD&C colors in U.S. food and beverage portfolio by mid-2026. 
Complete
PepsiCo, Inc.New Cheetos® and Doritos® products
  • New products made with no artificial flavors or dyes, and completely colorless
Complete
PepsiCo, Inc.Gatorade
  • Remove all artificial colors from full powder stick portfolio in Spring 2026
  • Remove FD&C colors from fruit punch, lemon lime, and orange Gatorade Thirst Quencher and Gatorade Zero products in Fall 2026
     
In progress
PIM Brands, Inc.Welch's® Fruit Snacks
  • Remove artificial dyes in all products by early 2026. 
Complete
The Hershey CompanyBROOKSIDE®, Dot's Homestyle Pretzels®, JOLLY RANCHER®, KitKat®, SKINNYPOP®, Twizzlers® 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from snacks by the end of 2027.
In progress
The J.M. Smucker CompanyCertain varieties of reduced sugar fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, and a selection of products from our Hostess brand
  • Will not sell products with certified color additives to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Eliminate certified color additives from consumer food products by the end of 2027.
In progress
The Kraft Heinz CompanyCrystal Light®, Kool-Aid®, MiO®, Jell-O®, Jet-Puffed® 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from products by the end of 2027.
In progress
Tyson Foods, Inc.Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, HILLSHIRE FARM® 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from products by the end   of May 2025.
Complete
Walmart, Inc.All Walmart private brand foods in the U.S. are included, such as: Great Value, Marketside, Freshness
  • Walmart U.S. is removing certified color additives and more than 30 other ingredients — like certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes — from its private brand foods, to be completed by January 2027.
In progress
WK Kellogg Co®Kellogg's APPLE JACKS®, Kellogg's RICE KRISPIES® varieties, Kellogg's FROOT LOOPS®, Various Licensed Cereal Products
  • Will not launch any new products with certified color additives beginning in January 2026. 
  • Eliminate certified color additives from existing food products by the end of 2026.
  • Removing FD&C colors in K-12 cereals served in schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
In progress
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