May 9, 2025 (Charlevoix Courier) –
Popular snack brands like Lays and Tostitos will stop using artificial colors by the end of the year, a move to accommodate Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new phase-out of petroleum-based synthetic dyes.
At an April24 earnings call, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the transition is already underway and that more of the company's brands will follow suit, with more than 60 percent of its business already lacking artificial color as of this month.
Laguarta also said PepsiCo will lead an anticipated consumer demand for more natural ingredients as it has with sodium and sugar reduction, and better fats.
"We obviously stand by the science and our products are very safe and there's nothing to worry about this," Laguarta told investors. "Ideally, we can do this in a very pragmatic, orchestrated way as an industry and not create unnecessary panic or chaos. But, we'll lead that transition."
In the next couple of years, PepsiCo's entire portfolio, which includes Doritos and Cheetos, will have migrated into natural colors or the company will at least provide the consumers with natural color options, he added.
"And obviously every consumer will have the opportunity to choose what they prefer," he said. "That's the journey we're undergoing."
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's phase-out of all petroleum-based synthetic dyes comes after RFK Jr. became health secretary in February and President Donald Trump's nomination in November.
During an April 22 announcement, Kennedy criticized food producers for providing Americans with petroleum-based chemicals "without their knowledge or consent" and for "too long."
"These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development. That era is coming to an end," he said. "We're restoring gold-standard science, applying common sense, and beginning to earn back the public's trust. And we're doing it by working with industry to get these toxic dyes out of the foods our families eat every day."
According to the FDA, artificial dyes are used to "offset color loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage conditions; correct natural variations in color; enhance colors that occur naturally; provide color to colorless and 'fun' foods."
"Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said.
The dyes that will be phased out by the end of 2026:
FD&C Green No. 3
FD&C Red No. 40
FD&C Yellow No. 5
FD&C Yellow No. 6
FD&C Blue No. 1
FD&C Blue No. 2
Also coming within the coming months will be action to remove authorization to use:
Citrus Red No. 2
Orange B
Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
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