Several major food makers pledge to eliminate artificial coloring

Several US food makers have announced plans to eliminate synthetic dyes from their products in recent weeks, with PepsiCo being the latest. The brand said it will relaunch Lay’s and Tostitos this year, free from artificial colors and flavors.

The move aligns with pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign, which champions clean-label, whole-food ingredients.

While PepsiCo also aims to incorporate natural hues to all US food products, its Cheetos and Gatorade still rely on synthetic dyes for their bright colors.

Another major user of synthetic colors, the ice cream industry, also pledged to remove them.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) joined RFK Jr. this week to announce that over 90% of US ice cream producers have agreed to eliminate artificial dyes—including Red 3, Yellow 5, and Blue 1—from their products by the end of 2027.

The FDA just gave the green light to gardenia blue, a new natural color additive made from the Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The natural blue is approved for use in sports drinks, teas and candy.

Health Secretary RFK Jr. hailed the approval as a win for kids and food transparency. Gardenia blue is the fourth natural color approved in two months.