General Mills is the company behind popular cereals like Trix and Lucky Charms, has announced that it will stop using artificial colors in many of its U.S. food products by the end of 2027. It also plans to remove synthetic dyes from the cereals and foods it provides to K-12 schools by summer 2026. This move is part of a growing trend among food companies to remove controversial ingredients from their products. Just a few days earlier, Kraft Heinz made a similar promise.
Why Is This Important?
Artificial colors are added to foods to make them look bright and appealing, but many people are now concerned about their effects on health—especially for children. Some believe these dyes may be linked to behavioral issues or other health concerns, though the science is still being debated.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently asked companies to stop using six common synthetic dyes by 2027. Although this request is voluntary, the government may add pressure in the future if companies don’t act on their own. General Mills says that only about 15% of its U.S. food products currently contain artificial colors, and just a small part of its school food offerings will be affected. Still, the company is giving itself over two years to make the changes. Kraft Heinz says about 10% of its products use artificial dyes.
Challenges Ahead
Switching from artificial to natural colors isn’t easy. When General Mills tried it before—in 2016 with its Trix cereal—many customers didn’t like the new version because the colors were not as bright. The company had to bring back the original version with artificial dyes in 2017.
Natural colors also bring other challenges. They can be harder to find, more expensive, and may affect how long food stays fresh. Some changes might even require updates to packaging or pricing.
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Message from General Mills
Jeff Harmening, the CEO of General Mills, said the company has always adapted to meet consumer needs and this is another step in that direction. By making this announcement now, both General Mills and Kraft Heinz may also be trying to show the government that they are willing to take action without being forced to do so by law.
What’s Next?
The FDA hopes companies will make these changes on their own, but also says they’re ready to use other strategies if needed. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said they want to start with a friendly approach but are prepared to take stronger steps if companies don’t act quickly enough. For now, shoppers can expect to see more naturally colored foods on store shelves and possibly fewer neon-bright cereals in the years to come.
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