Kraft Heinz promised Tuesday to purge certain artificial food dyes from its products by the end of 2027, a move that follows pressure from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to excise color additives from the nation’s food supply because of potential health risks. The company said it will replace food, drug and cosmetic (FD&C) dyes with natural versions when possible; create new colors and shades, if necessary; or simply remove colors. Nearly 90 percent of Kraft Heinz products are already free of those dyes.
The change will affect mostly beverages and desserts that still contain the dyes, such as Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Crystal Light powdered drinks and Jet-Puffed marshmallows, according to a company spokesperson.
Other well-known Kraft items won’t change. Kraft Mac & Cheese stayed bright orange when the company ditched artificial coloring in that product a decade ago for turmeric, paprika and annatto. Its ketchup never used an artificial color to be red.
Do dyes pose a risk?
Some consumer advocacy groups argue the dyes aren’t worth the potential risk because they lack nutritional value.
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They note a 2021 review of seven food dyes — performed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment — that found that the consumption of some food dyes can result in hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children, though sensitivity varies.
The changes are “long overdue,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, an organization that promotes product safety. Kraft’s announcement marks a significant shift, even if the vast majority of its offerings are already dye-free.
“Eliminating these synthetic dyes won’t impact the taste or nutritional content of impacted products,” Ronholm said. “They may notice a slight change in the color of some products, but it would be one of those situations where you really have to be looking for it.”
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