Kraft Heinz has pledged to remove all artificial food dyes from its products sold in the United States by the close of 2027. The company also confirmed it will no longer introduce any new items containing synthetic dyes, starting immediately.
The change affects products across several well-known brands under the Kraft Heinz umbrella, including Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Crystal Light, MiO, and Jet-Puffed. According to a company representative, most of these items fall into the beverage and dessert categories, where artificial coloring is still commonly used.
Currently, about 90% of the Kraft Heinz U.S. product lineup is free from synthetic coloring. The company says the remaining items will either have their formulas revised or be discontinued. Pedro Navio, president of the company’s North American operations, emphasized that many popular products—such as Heinz Ketchup—have never relied on synthetic colors. Others, like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, were reformulated years ago using ingredients like turmeric and paprika to create their familiar shades.
This corporate decision follows increasing pressure from federal agencies and health advocates. In April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working alongside the Department of Health and Human Services, stated it would cooperate with food manufacturers to gradually move away from artificial dyes. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made this issue a focus of his public health policy efforts, calling for cleaner ingredient lists in packaged foods.
In addition to the company’s announcement, federal regulators have taken action to eliminate Red No. 3 from food and drug products after determining the dye was linked to cancer in animal studies. Red No. 3 has already been banned from use in cosmetics and topical medicines in the United States for over 30 years. Other dyes—including Red No. 40, Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Blue Nos. 1 and 2, and Green No. 3—are also expected to be removed under a voluntary plan supported by the FDA.
Despite this regulatory movement, industry groups have pushed back. The Consumer Brands Association, which represents many large food companies, has maintained that these additives have been evaluated and permitted under existing safety standards. Still, many companies—including Kraft Heinz—are shifting course.
Replacing synthetic dyes poses technical and cost challenges. Natural colorings are more difficult to produce in large quantities and may result in less vibrant hues. Nonetheless, Kraft Heinz stated it has already made over a thousand changes to product recipes in recent years to improve overall quality and nutritional content.
The company also plans to work with licensees and contract manufacturers to promote consistent reformulation across its broader supply chain. While it remains to be seen how consumers will respond to any changes in product appearance, Kraft Heinz says it remains committed to providing options that meet evolving expectations for ingredient transparency and safety.
By setting a clear timeline for phasing out artificial dyes, the company is positioning itself as part of a growing shift in the food industry toward cleaner and more natural ingredient profiles.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license and was created by Steven Depolo.
