The decision has gathered much favour from about two-thirds of Americans for reformulating processed foods and removing added preservatives and dyes.
Nestlé announced on Wednesday that it will remove all artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverage products by mid-2026. The move aligns Nestlé with other major food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, which recently made similar pledges. Both companies have committed to phasing out synthetic dyes from their U.S. product lines by 2027, with General Mills also planning to eliminate artificial colors from cereals and all foods served in K-12 schools by mid-2026.
The push to reformulate foods has widespread public support. An AP-NORC poll found that about two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or changing processed foods to remove ingredients such as added sugars and artificial dyes. Some states have already taken action: California and West Virginia have banned artificial dyes in school meals.
In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott recently signed legislation requiring products containing artificial dyes or additives to carry a warning label starting in 2027. The label will note that the product contains ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” in countries like Australia, Canada, the U.K., or the European Union.
Federal regulators have also increased oversight. In January, just before President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. government banned the use of Red 3 dye in food—more than three decades after it was removed from cosmetics due to cancer concerns.
In April, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency would work with the food industry to voluntarily eliminate synthetic dyes by the end of 2026.
Nestlé has made similar commitments in the past. In 2015, the company vowed to eliminate artificial flavors and colors by the end of that year, but it failed to fully follow through. However, Nestlé says it has made progress over the past decade, with 90% of its U.S. product portfolio now free of synthetic dyes. One of the remaining products, Nesquik Banana Strawberry milk, still contains Red 3.
Nestlé says the decision reflects its commitment to evolving with consumer preferences.
“Serving and delighting people is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make,” said Nestlé U.S. CEO Marty Thompson in a statement.
