© Reuters. Breakfast cereals are displayed for sale, as U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., along with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, announce the FDA's intent to remove from the U.S. food supply \"petroleum-based synthetic\" food dy\n(Reuters) - Packaged food makers in the U.S. have rolled out plans to eliminate the use of FD&C colors - a category of synthetic dyes - from their products, responding to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative and changing consumer preferences. In April, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency aims to remove artificial food colors from the food supply against the backdrop of mounting concerns about their potential links to health issues such as ADHD, obesity and diabetes. Here are the companies that are preparing to eliminate synthetic dyes from their food products in the U.S.:\n\nCompany Comment Target \nYear \nMars 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. \nHershey Plans to remove synthetic dyes from snacks. \nJ.M. Smucker 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. \nConagra Brands 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. \nNestlé USA 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. \nGeneral Mills 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. \nKraft Heinz Will not launch new products with artificial colors in the U.S. and aims to eliminate synthetic dyes from existing items. \nSam’s Club - Walmart-owned Sam’s Club will eliminate over 40 ingredients, including artificial colors and aspartame, from private label brand Member’s Mark. \nTyson Foods Company said it would reformulate food products containing petroleum-based synthetic dyes. \nWK Kellogg 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. \nPepsiCo 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. \nKellanova 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.

Factbox-Food Companies to Phase Out Artificial Colors Amid 'Make America Healthy Again' Campaign by Reuters

U.S. food manufacturers are responding to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative by planning to eliminate synthetic food dyes from their products. The move follows concerns about potential health impacts such as ADHD, obesity, and diabetes. Major companies including Mars, Hershey, J.M. Smucker, Conagra Brands, Nestlé USA, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Sam's Club, Tyson Foods, WK Kellogg, and Kellanova have announced plans to remove or phase out artificial colors from their products, with specific timelines ranging from 2026 to 2027. Some companies are also committing to stop selling products with synthetic dyes to K-12 schools or to transition to natural color alternatives in school food programs.