Kraft Heinz will take away synthetic dyes from its merchandise bought within the U.S. by the tip of 2027, the corporate introduced Tuesday. The multinational meals firm additionally mentioned it’s going to cease making new merchandise that include these dyes, efficient instantly.

Kraft Heinz, the producer of meals comparable to Jell-O, Capri Solar and Kool-Assist, mentioned in a web-based assertion that 10% of its merchandise include the dyes and that it has invested in eradicating the colours or changing them with pure colours. 

Kraft Heinz changed synthetic dyes in its Kraft Mac & Cheese product in 2016, whereas another merchandise, together with Heinz Tomato Ketchup, have by no means had dyes, the corporate mentioned. Kraft Heinz’s announcement comes amid a push from U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to root out synthetic dyes from the nation’s meals provide and as a substitute substitute them with pure dyes. 

“The overwhelming majority of our merchandise use pure or no colours, and we have been on a journey to scale back our use of FD&C (Meals, Drug & Beauty) colours throughout the rest of our portfolio,” mentioned Pedro Navio, North America president at Kraft Heinz within the firm’s assertion. 

Over 200 manufacturers are manufactured by Kraft Heinz, which is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. CBS MoneyWatch reached out to Kraft Heinz to inquire which merchandise in its portfolio nonetheless embrace synthetic dyes however didn’t instantly hear again. 

The push to finish artificial dyes

In April, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration and the HHS requested the meals trade to cease utilizing artificial meals dyes.

“For too lengthy, some meals producers have been feeding Individuals petroleum-based chemical substances with out their information or consent,” Kennedy mentioned on the time.

The businesses, nonetheless, have stopped wanting introducing an all-out ban — one thing Kennedy floated as a part of his “Make America Wholesome Once more” platform whereas on the marketing campaign path.

The FDA presently permits 36 meals coloration components, together with eight artificial dyes. The dyes are used closely in U.S. merchandise, though sure states, together with California and West Virginia, have enacted bans to limit their use.

FDA commissioner Marty Makary mentioned at a information convention in April the company is working to remove artificial dyes by the tip of 2026, though whether or not that occurs will depend upon voluntary efforts from the meals trade.

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