Factbox: Food companies to phase out artificial dyes, sweeteners in health drive​​

Kraft Heinz Co

27/02/2026 12:39

Updates to add Target

Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. packaged food makers and retailers have rolled out plans to eliminate the use of ingredients such as FD&C colors — a category of synthetic dyes — and sweeteners like corn syrup from their products, responding to the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative and changing consumer preferences.

Retail giant
Target TGT.N
 on Friday became the latest, saying it will only carry cereals made without certified synthetic colors.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the U.S. health regulator had said in April last year the agency aims to remove ingredients, including artificial food colors, citing concerns about a possible link with health conditions like ADHD, obesity and diabetes, an area many scientists say requires more research.

Kennedy has also criticized excessive sugar consumption in the American diet.

Here are the companies that are preparing to eliminate synthetic dyes and artificial sweeteners from their food products in the U.S.

Company
Comment
Target Year
Target TGT.N
It would sell only cereals made without certified synthetic colors.
End of May, 2026
Mars
To introduce products made without artificial colors that will be available in the U.S. across its gum, fruity confection and chocolate candy categories from brands including Extra, Skittles, Starburst and M&M's.
In 2026
Hershey HSY.N
Plans to remove synthetic dyes from snacks.
End of 2027
J.M. Smucker SJM.N
Smucker said it would remove synthetic food colors from all consumer food products, and that it is working to stop selling products with synthetic dyes to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
End of 2027
Conagra Brands CAG.N
Will remove synthetic dyes from U.S. frozen product portfolio and eliminate using artificial colors in food served to K-12 schools by 2026-27.
End of 2027
Nestle USA NESN.S
To fully eliminate synthetic food colors from its U.S. food and beverage portfolio. Over 90% of current categories already dye-free, the company said.
Mid-2026
General Mills GIS.N
Cheerios maker will remove artificial colors from its entire U.S. retail business and eliminate the use of synthetic dyes from all its U.S. cereals and foods served in K-12 schools by summer 2026.
End of 2027
Kraft Heinz KHC.N
Will not launch new products with artificial colors in the U.S. and aims to eliminate synthetic dyes from existing items.
End of 2027
Sam's Club WMT.N
Walmart-owned Sam's Club will eliminate over 40 ingredients, including artificial colors and aspartame, from private label brand Member's Mark.
End of 2025
Tyson Foods TSN.N
Company said it will reformulate food products containing petroleum-based synthetic dyes.
Company said it will stop using high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, BHA/BHT and titanium dioxide in its branded products in U.S.
End of May, 2025
By the end of 2025
WK Kellogg KLG.N
Will remove FD&C colors from foods that contain them by the end of 2027, and will not launch new products with the colors from January 2026. Reformulating cereals served in schools to exclude synthetic dyes.
By the end of 2027
PepsiCo PEP.O
Will remove artificial colors from K-12 schools food portfolio, starting this upcoming school season. To migrate the portfolio to natural colors or at least provide the consumer with natural color options.
Company said it will use sugar in its products like Pepsi beverages if consumers want it.
By next couple of years
Coca-Cola KO.N
Company to introduce a cane-sugar sweetened version of Coke in U.S.
Kellanova K.N
On track to remove synthetic colors from U.S. K-12 foods within the 2026/27 school year and from retail foods by 2027-end.
By December 31, 2027
Campbell's Co CPB.O
Will eliminate all FD&C colors from its food and beverage products in second half of fiscal year 2026.
By mid-2026
Walmart WMT.N
Will eliminate all synthetic dyes and more than 30 other ingredients like preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes from its U.S. private brand foods by January 2027.
By January 2027

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 (Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry, Neil J Kanatt, Savyata Mishra, Koyena Das and Anshi Sancheti in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Shilpi Majumdar and Sahal Muhammed)

 ((AnujaBharat.Mistry@thomsonreuters.com))