For years, the vibrant, artificial hues in our favorite Kraft Heinz products have been a silent concern for many, but a monumental shift is on the horizon! Kraft Heinz, a titan in the food industry, has officially committed to removing harmful synthetic dyes from its entire U.S. lineup by 2027. This groundbreaking move, detailed in their recent announcement, marks a significant victory for consumer advocacy and a bold step towards a healthier pantry, promising a future where beloved mac and cheese and other iconic treats are as wholesome as they are delicious. Keep reading to find out how Kraft Heinz plans to pull off this bold move.
Kraft Heinz Unveils Three-Part Strategy for Cleaner Ingredients
Kraft Heinz has announced a major shift in its U.S. product strategy: the complete elimination of artificial dyes and colors. As part of this commitment, the company aims to remove all remaining synthetic color additives from its domestic portfolio by the end of 2027.
Currently, nearly 90% of Kraft Heinz’s U.S. products are already free from FD&C colors—a class of artificial dyes regulated by the FDA. For the remaining items that still contain synthetic coloring, Kraft Heinz has launched a three-part strategy to address the issue. This initiative includes (1) removing colors that are not essential to the consumer experience, (2) replacing FD&C dyes with natural alternatives, and (3) innovating entirely new shades when existing natural options fall short.
“As a food company with a 150-plus year heritage, we are continuously evolving our recipes, products and portfolio to deliver superiority to consumers and customers,” said Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz. “The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we’ve been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio. In fact, we removed artificial colors, preservatives and flavors from our beloved Kraft Mac & Cheese back in 2016. Our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup has never had artificial dyes — the red color comes simply from the world’s best tomatoes. Above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable, and great-tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don’t take lightly.”
This latest move builds on the company’s ongoing efforts to modernize its ingredients and respond to growing consumer demand for cleaner labels and more transparent food sourcing.
What Does FD&C Mean?
FD&C stands for Food, Drug, and Cosmetic. It refers to synthetic dyes, or color additives, that have been certified and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. These colors are used to enhance the visual appeal of products, restore color lost during processing or storage, and provide vibrant hues to otherwise colorless items.
The term “FD&C” comes directly from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. This act is a landmark piece of legislation that grants the FDA authority to oversee the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics in the United States.
When you see “FD&C” followed by a color and a number (e.g., FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Red No. 40), it indicates that the FDA has approved the specific color additive for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics, and that each batch of the dye must be certified by the FDA to meet strict quality and safety standards.
Although FD&C colors have long been approved by the FDA, Kraft Heinz has limited their use to a small portion of its product lineup. Now, as part of its broader initiative to eliminate synthetic dyes, the company is also collaborating with its licensed brand partners to encourage the removal of FD&C colors across all associated products.
Beyond Colors: Kraft Heinz’s Broader Push Toward Healthier Food
Kraft Heinz’s decision to eliminate artificial dyes is just one part of a much larger commitment to improving the nutritional quality of its products. In addition to removing synthetic colors, the company has reformulated over 1,000 recipes to better align with evolving consumer health priorities—adding more protein and fiber while reducing sugar, salt, and saturated fat. These ongoing efforts are expected to remove nearly 55 million pounds of sugar from its portfolio by the end of this year, reinforcing Kraft Heinz’s mission to deliver food that’s not only flavorful but also better for you.
Source: CStore Decisions