Consumer packaged goods (CPG) giants Conagra Brands Inc., Nestle USA and J.M. Smucker have added their brands to the list of companies pledging to remove artificial dyes from their products.
Chicago-based Conagra said it will complete the removal of certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic colors (FD&C colors) from its U.S. frozen product portfolio later this year.
“Our leading portfolio of frozen brands, including Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's and more, will be 100% free from FD&C colors by the end of 2025,” said Tom McGough, executive vice president and COO of Conagra Brands.
As part of its efforts across its full U.S. retail portfolio, Conagra said it will not offer products with FD&C colors sold to K-12 schools by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. The company said it is also working to discontinue the use of FD&C colors in the manufacturing of products across its U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027.
Arlington, Virginia-based Nestle USA said it will eliminate FD&C colors in its U.S. food and beverage portfolio by mid-2026. The company said that “over 90% of Nestlé USA's current portfolio does not include synthetic colors.”
Over the last decade, the company said it has been actively removing synthetic colors from its products and working to identify alternative solutions in recipes where they are still used. Nestle USA said the work is scheduled to be completed within the next 12 months.
Orrville, Ohio-based J.M. Smucker said it will remove FD&C colors from all consumer food products by the end of calendar year 2027.
“Throughout our 128-year history, we have successfully evolved our portfolio and product offerings based on shifts in consumer preferences,” said Mark Smucker, CEO and chair of the board. “Our commitment to remove FD&C colors from our sugar-free fruit spreads, ice cream toppings and sweet baked goods products represents the latest example of our desire to evolve and our ability to continue to innovate to deliver on the expectations of our consumers.”
The company also said it is working with its distribution partners to no longer sell products with FD&C colors to K-12 schools by the 2026/2027 school year.
John Brase, president and CEO said the company’s teams are working “diligently on reformulation planning while evaluating supply considerations to help ensure we continue to deliver products that delight our consumers.”
In January the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a ban of red dye No. 3 from food products. In April, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference to phase out petroleum-based dyes. FD&Cs are synthetic additives approved by the FDA for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics.
Earlier this month, Kraft Heinz said it also would phase out all artificial dyes from its U.S. products by 2027.
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