Kraft Heinz pulling artificial dyes from its US products in 2027

Kraft Heinz will be pulling artificial dyes from its U.S. products starting in 2027 and will no longer roll out new products with the dyes.
The move comes nearly two months after US health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the nation's food supply.
Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that almost 90 per cent of its US products already don't contain food, drug & cosmetic colors, but that the products that do still use the dyes will have them removed by the end of 2027. FD&C colors are synthetic additives that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in food, drugs and cosmetics.
Kraft Heinz said that many of its US products that still use the FD&C colors are in its beverage and desserts categories, including certain products sold under brands including Crystal Light, Kool Aid, Jell-O and Jet Puffed.
The company said that it will instead use natural colors for the products.
"The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio," Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement.
Kraft Heinz stripped artificial colors, flavors and preservatives from its macaroni and cheese in 2016 and said it has never used artificial dyes in its ketchup.
The company plans to work with licensees of its brands to encourage them to remove the dyes.
In April Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference that the agency would take steps to eliminate the synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry.
Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some children. The FDA has maintained that the approved dyes are safe and that "the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives."
The FDA currently allows 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency announced that the dye known as Red 3 - used in candies, cakes and some medications - would be banned in food by 2027 because it caused cancer in laboratory rats.
Artificial dyes are used widely in US foods. In Canada and in Europe - where synthetic colors are required to carry warning labels - manufacturers mostly use natural substitutes. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting the use of artificial colors in foods.
Many US food companies are already reformulating their foods, according to Sensient Colors, one of the world's largest producers of food dyes and flavorings. In place of synthetic dyes, foodmakers can use natural hues made from beets, algae and crushed insects and pigments from purple sweet potatoes, radishes and red cabbage.>

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

6 hours ago

• Time of India

Dose of hope

Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. To really help, new HIV vax has to be made cheap A pill to treat multidrug-resistant HIV, lenacapavir, has been approved by US drug regulator FDA as a preventive vaccine. This is a huge deal – incidence of HIV may have declined since 1990s but even today about 13L people globally are infected by the virus every year. But its price is an obstacle. Sold for $28,218 per year in US, it's prohibitive even for high-income nations. Pharma company Gilead that manufactures lenacapavir has reportedly tied up with over 100 middle- and low-income countries for manufacture of generics pending approvals. But access likely will still be tricky for poorer African countries that bear the HIV burden. Drugs to prevent HIV transmission have been around almost a decade, but a daily dosage regimen makes these unreliable. People forget and there's the stigma/doubt in partners that a daily dose is preventive. Lenacapavir needs to be taken just twice a year. Its long-lasting effect in preventing infection – almost 100% in adults and adolescents – is thus the best bet today. Also because HIV research in US bears the additional burden of Trump administration's slashed funds. An effective vaccine for HIV has been elusive for decades because of its rapid mutations. Several mRNA vaccines, like those developed for Covid and considered the most promising, are in clinical trials. But since Jan, under Trump's health secretary Bob Kennedy Jr, NIH stopped funding hundreds of such HIV vaccine-related research. This is what makes repurposed lenacapavir a lifeline, provided it's made affordable. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.

Hans India

16 hours ago

• Hans India

ZeroHarm Eyes Rs 150 Crore Milestone by FY 2025 -'26, Accelerates Global Expansion into GCC

ZeroHarm Sciences, India's pioneering clean-label nutraceutical company, is set to accelerate its global footprint with a focused expansion into the GCC markets, including the UAE and the broader Middle East. Following a remarkable 10× revenue growth over the past two years and operating at a healthy ~20% EBITDA margin, the company closed the last fiscal year with 71 crore in gross revenue with an exit ARR of 90 crores. In the current fiscal, ZeroHarm is aiming for ₹150 crore in gross revenue, driven by strong domestic and global momentum and increasing traction in the United States, which now contributes nearly 30% of its overall revenue. At the heart of ZeroHarm's global success is its patented ZeroHarm BioEnhance platform, a pharma-grade nanotechnology that encapsulates plant-based actives at the nanoscale, dramatically enhancing their bioavailability by up to 5×, ensuring faster onset, precise dosing, and residue-free delivery. This breakthrough, backed by granted patents and deep R&D, makes ZeroHarm the first Indian company to bring pharmaceutical nanotech into nutraceuticals at scale. ZeroHarm's US FDA, CE, and ISO-certified formulations are backed by government-led clinical trials, with documented claims for 15 products, setting it apart in a market rife with unverified health claims. Today, the company offers over 70 targeted, condition-specific products spanning diabetes, arthritis, PCOS, liver and kidney health, immunity, and oncology support, with over million units sold across India to date. Backed by a fully owned, nanotech-enabled manufacturing facility, ZeroHarm can produce up to ₹250 crore worth of finished goods annually, making it one of the few Indian nutraceutical brands with true end-to-end production capabilities. To support its international expansion, ZeroHarm has acquired a dedicated manufacturing and R&D facility in the United States, enhancing local supply chain efficiency, fast-tracking formulation innovation, and enabling closer clinical and regulatory collaborations in key global markets. The U.S. infrastructure also gives ZeroHarm a significant strategic edge in developed markets, where stringent compliance standards often limit entry for Indian nutraceutical brands reliant on contract manufacturing. 'The global nutraceutical market is shifting, consumers are demanding not just clean labels, but clinical credibility. At ZeroHarm, we've combined deep R&D with pharma-grade nanotechnology to raise the bar for efficacy, safety, and transparency in preventive wellness. Our entry into the GCC is a natural extension of the trust we've built in India and the U.S., and a significant step toward making evidence-backed, plant-based therapeutics accessible to global consumers,' said Sachin Darbarwar, Founder & CEO, ZeroHarm Sciences. With distribution agreements and regulatory filings already underway, the company will also launch in the UK aside from the GCC markets by Q3 2025, introducing its clinically tested product lines via pharmacies, e-commerce platforms, and integrative practitioner networks.

The Hindu

17 hours ago

• The Hindu

Why Men Shouldn't Skip That All-Important Health Check

When was the last time you had a health check? If you're like most Indian men, the answer might be 'never' or 'I was forced to'. Truth: Serious health conditions are quietly brewing in many men — and showing up far earlier than they used to. Non-communicable diseases are now hitting Indian men in their 30s and 40s, not in their late 50s (as most believe). The scariest part? Many of these issues have no symptoms in the early stages. Fortunately, a comprehensive health check that goes beyond the basics and offers advanced testing can make a difference. Here are a few NCDs that affect men primarily, and the latest tests available: 1. Heart Disease Even if you feel perfectly fine, your heart may feel otherwise. Men aged 45+ are 28% more likely to have heart disease than women of the same age. According to the Apollo Health of the Nation 2025 report, of the 3,000+ people (with no history of heart issues) evaluated for heart health, 58% had no symptoms. Of these, 46% had calcium deposits in their heart arteries — an early sign of atherosclerosis (heart blockage). 2.5% of these were under 40. What to do: Go beyond ECG and cholesterol. There are more advanced tests like Apolipoprotein A1 & B, high-sensitivity C-reactive Protein, and Coronary Calcium Scoring with low-dose CT (which measures plaque deposits). Mental health issues are often overlooked in men. A good health check should include screening for anxiety and depression, both of which directly affect physical health. 2. Fatty Liver Fatty liver is no longer an alcoholic-only health concern. With the rise in obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver is now common among men. The report showed that of 2.5 lakh people screened, 65% had fatty liver, but 52% of them had normal liver enzymes. What to do: Blood tests are not enough. Always include an abdominal ultrasound. For higher risk individuals, ask for a FibroScan to check for liver stiffness and early scarring. 3. Vitamin D and B12 Deficiency You may not expect it, but 82% of men were found to be Vitamin D deficient, and 38% had low B12. These deficiencies, thought to affect women typically, can lead to tiredness, poor bone health, memory issues, and nerve damage. What to do: Choose a health check that includes a vitamin panel. 4. Cancers Men are at higher risk for certain cancers, especially lung, oral and prostate cancers. Indian men tend to be diagnosed younger, often in their 50s, and late detection affects treatment success. What to do: If you're a smoker (past or present), a low-dose CT is preferred for early lung cancer detection. For men above 50, a PSA test is mandatory. Regular oral cavity screening is key for tobacco users. Final Thought Waiting for symptoms to show up is like waiting for the fire alarm after your house has already burnt down. What you need is not just a routine health check, but one that looks deeper — with latest blood tests, advanced imaging, and assessment for mental health, sleep and cognitive function! Choose wisely. Have questions for our doctors? WhatsApp us at 89392 83283 or email us at sincerelyyourdoctor@ with your name, city and query. 'A Preventive Healthcare Initiative by Apollo ProHealth and The Hindu'