Credited from: LEMONDE
Kraft Heinz announced that it will eliminate synthetic food dyes from all U.S. products by the end of 2027, ceasing the use of additives like Red 40 and Yellow 5 in popular items such as Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lunchables. This decision marks the company's commitment to ensure consumer safety through healthier product formulations, as nearly 90% of its products already do not contain these artificial colors, according to Bloomberg and CBS News.
Company president Pedro Navio stated that Kraft Heinz has long focused on reducing synthetic dye usage across its product portfolio. He highlighted that the company had already removed artificial colors from its Kraft macaroni and cheese in 2016 and that Heinz tomato ketchup has never contained dyes, as noted in reports from ABC News and Le Monde.
This announcement is part of a larger effort by U.S. health officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to phase out artificial dyes from the food supply in response to health concerns, particularly regarding their potential effects on children's behavior. Recent studies link these dyes to neurobehavioral issues, prompting the FDA to consider stricter regulations on their use, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.
In addition to eliminating existing artificial dyes, Kraft Heinz has pledged to refrain from launching any new products with these colorants immediately. The company aims to replace synthetic dyes with natural alternatives where applicable, or reinvent products with new color formulations if necessary, thus aligning itself with a growing trend among food manufacturers to offer safer, more health-conscious products, as reported by Bloomberg and Reuters.