Food Companies to Remove Artificial Dyes from Products like Kool-Aid and Jell-O

Food companies are starting to make big changes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on certain synthetic food dyes.

While the decision isn’t final yet, some major brands aren’t waiting. Kraft Heinz is one of them.

They just announced that they will remove all artificial dyes from their products sold in the U.S, reports EatingWell.

A Responsibility

According to Kraft Heinz’s North America President Pedro Navio, most of their products already don’t contain synthetic colors.

The company has been working on this for years. He says their popular Kraft Mac & Cheese lost artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors back in 2016.

Heinz Ketchup has always gotten its red color from tomatoes, not dyes.

Navio says this is part of their mission to give people food that tastes good, is affordable, and has better ingredients. He adds that they see this responsibility as a privilege.

The change will affect a long list of familiar brands. These include Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Velveeta, Lunchables, Crystal Light, and more.

Some of these already use natural coloring. Others, like Jell-O and Kool-Aid, will change their recipes over the next couple of years.

Kraft Heinz says all new products from these brands will be free of synthetic dyes starting now.

The Problem of Ultra-Processed

You might notice your favorite snacks looking a little different. But they should still taste the same. Food dyes don’t usually affect flavor.

There’s not much research showing that synthetic dyes alone cause health problems.

But doctors do agree that eating lots of ultra-processed foods isn’t great for your health.

It can raise your risk for things like high blood pressure and heart disease. And those types of foods are often where food dyes show up.

Removing dyes might not solve everything. But it’s a step toward cleaner labels and fewer processed ingredients. That could be a win for everyone who wants to eat a little better.

At EatingWell, we believe that all foods can fit into a healthy diet. But we support anyone who chooses to cut back on food dyes, too.