Nestle to eliminate artificial dyes from US products by 2026
According to an AP-NORC poll, around two-thirds of Americans favour restrictions or reformulations of processed foods to eliminate ingredients such as added sugars and artificial dyes
Nestle announced on Wednesday (25 June) that it will eliminate artificial colours from its US food and beverage products by mid-2026, becoming the latest major food company to commit to cleaner labels in response to shifting consumer preferences and regulatory scrutiny.
This move follows similar announcements by Kraft Heinz and General Mills last week, with both companies pledging to remove artificial dyes from their US products by 2027, reports AP.
General Mills also stated that it plans to remove artificial dyes from all US cereals and foods served in K-12 schools by mid-2026.
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Public support for such changes is strong. According to an AP-NORC poll, around two-thirds of Americans favour restrictions or reformulations of processed foods to eliminate ingredients such as added sugars and artificial dyes.
In recent months, several US states have taken legislative action. California and West Virginia have both banned artificial dyes in foods served in schools.
On Sunday, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill requiring food products containing artificial dyes or additives to carry a new safety label starting in 2027. The label will state that such products contain ingredients "not recommended for human consumption" in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.
At the federal level, efforts are also intensifying. In January, shortly before President Donald Trump took office, regulators banned the artificial dye Red 3 from the US food supply — nearly 35 years after it was prohibited in cosmetics due to potential cancer risks.
In April, Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the agency would work toward phasing out synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely through voluntary industry cooperation.
Nestle has previously made similar pledges. In 2015, the company vowed to remove artificial flavours and colours from its products by the end of that year, but the commitment was not fully upheld. However, the company says it has made significant progress since then.
Nestle stated Wednesday that it has been phasing out synthetic dyes from its US offerings over the past decade, with 90% of its portfolio now free from artificial colouring. One notable exception is Nesquik Banana Strawberry milk, which still contains Red 3.
"Serving and delighting people is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make," said Nestle's US CEO Marty Thompson in a statement, adding that the company wants to "evolve with its US customers' changing nutritional needs and preferences."
