Latest news with #CrystalLight
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Food giant planning major change to its ingredients list
The company, known for its frozen foods, soups, and condiments, has announced a big change to proceedings Brits are extremely fond of their food. From fish and chips to bangers and mash, our hearty grub is famous all across the world and a lot of the time, is accompanied by a good condiment, whether it's ketchup, mayo, or brown sauce. In fact, those fond of a creamy dip or a salad dressing might want to pay attention, as one of the world's largest food companies is planning a big change to its ingredient list across the Atlantic. Kraft Heinz has announced it will stop using artificial dyes in all US products by the end of 2027. The company also said it won't use any synthetic colours in new products going forward, The Wall Street Journal reported. Artificial dyes, like Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Blue 1 and 2 and Green 3, are used in everything from sweets and frosting to pie crusts. They are used to make foods look more appealing or bring back colour that was lost during processing. But many health experts, including those in the US Government, are now rallying against them. In April, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vowed to work with food companies to get rid of six synthetic dyes from US foods by the end of 2026. The effort is part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" - or MAHA - initiative. Kennedy, who is US Health Secretary, has blamed artificial dyes and other additives for health problems in children. While some food industry groups argue the dyes are safe and approved by regulators, others are already changing course. Companies like PepsiCo and WK Kellogg are also working to reduce or replace synthetic dyes. Nearly 90 per cent of their US products already have no artificial dyes, Heinz said. But some much-loved items in the US still do, like Crystal Light, Heinz relish, Kool-Aid, Jell-O and Jet-Puffed marshmallow products. "The vast majority of our products use natural or no colours and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colours across the remainder of our portfolio," Pedro Navio, Kraft Heinz's North America president, told The WSJ. The company said it will either remove the colours, replace them with natural ones or swap in different colours where exact matches aren't possible. In some products where color isn't necessary, it may be removed entirely. Kraft Heinz made changes to its beloved mac and cheese, removing artificial colours, preservatives and flavours from their recipe in 2016. The company also confirmed that its Heinz Tomato Ketchup has never contained artificial dyes, stating on its website that "the red colour comes simply from the world's best tomatoes." The customer had asked about the availability of specific meals, including Sweet and Sour Chicken and Chicken and Broccoli Melt. A Heinz spokesperson responded: "We've taken the strategic decision to streamline our UK portfolio which includes discontinuing our frozen line with Weight Watchers. "This change will enable us to focus on the product lines that deliver the most value for our customers and pave the way for new innovation that meets changing consumer tastes, lifestyle needs and preferences." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Kraft, General Mills set to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products
Two major food producers say that they will be pulling artificial dyes from their U.S. products starting in 2027. The shift comes nearly two months after U.S. health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colours. Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it will be removing artificial dyes from its U.S. products beginning in 2027 and will no longer roll out new products with the dyes. Hours later, General Mills announced that it plans to remove artificial dyes from all of its U.S. cereals and all foods served in K-12 schools by the summer of 2026. It is also looking to eliminate the dyes from its full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027. Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that almost 90% of its U.S. products already don't contain food, drug & cosmetic colours, but that the products that do still use the dyes will have them removed by the end of 2027. FD&C colours are synthetic additives that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food, drugs and cosmetics. Story continues below advertisement Kraft Heinz said that many of its U.S. products that still use the FD&C colours 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 colours for the products. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The vast majority of our products use natural or no colours, and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colours across the remainder of our portfolio,' Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement. Kraft Heinz stripped artificial colours, flavors and preservatives from its macaroni and cheese in 2016 and said it has never used artificial dyes in its ketchup. 3:02 Health Matters: U.S. to phase out many synthetic food dyes The company plans to work with licensees of its brands to encourage them to remove the dyes. Story continues below advertisement General Mills said that the changes it is making only impacts a small portion of its K-12 school business as almost all of its school items are already made without artificial dyes. In addition, 85% of the company's U.S. foods that are sold retail are already made without dyes. 'Across the long arc of our history, General Mills has moved quickly to meet evolving consumer needs, and reformulating our product portfolio to remove certified colours is yet another example,' Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening said in a statement. 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 colour additives.' The FDA currently allows 36 food colour 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. Story continues below advertisement Artificial dyes are used widely in U.S. foods. In Canada and in Europe — where synthetic colours 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 colours in foods. Many U.S. 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.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Kraft Heinz to drop artificial dyes from US products by 2027 amid concerns
Kraft Heinz has officially joined the growing movement to clean up America's food labels. The global food giant announced plans to remove artificial dyes from all its US products by the end of 2027. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the company also confirmed that it will no longer introduce any new products in the US that contain synthetic colours. The decision comes amid rising scrutiny of artificial food additives by the Trump administration. As part of this effort, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration in April launched a joint initiative aimed at phasing out six synthetic food dyes from the national food supply by the end of next year, citing mounting health concerns and growing public demand for cleaner food labels. 'This is about our children's health. These additives are poisoning an entire generation,' Kennedy has said repeatedly, as he pushes for sweeping reforms in the nation's food system. While many food companies and industry bodies have continued to defend synthetic dyes, citing regulatory approvals and decades of usage, some major players are slowly changing course. PepsiCo and WK Kellogg, for instance, have already started phasing out or limiting their use of artificial colours. Now, Kraft Heinz—co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh—is joining that list. The company revealed that nearly 90 per cent of its US product portfolio (by sales) already contains no artificial dyes. For the remaining products—including popular items like Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, Heinz Relish, Jell-O, and Jet-Puffed marshmallows—the company said it will either replace synthetic dyes with natural alternatives, change the colour profile entirely, or remove colours where they are not essential. 'For most of our products, natural replacements are available,' Pedro Navio, President of Kraft Heinz North America, was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal. 'The vast majority of our products use natural or no colours, and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colours across the remainder of our portfolio,' he said. This isn't Kraft Heinz's first step in this direction. The brand had already removed artificial dyes from its iconic Kraft Mac & Cheese back in 2016.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago-based Kraft Heinz pulling artificial dyes from its US products in 2027
Chicago's 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 U.S. 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% of its U.S. 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food, drugs and cosmetics. Kraft Heinz said that many of its U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Kraft Heinz to rid all chemical dyes over next 2 years
NEW YORK, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Kraft Heinz, the food giant best known for its ketchup and boxed Mac & Cheese, said on Tuesday it would remove all chemical dyes from its products by the end of 2027. The company said the shift would affect only about 10 percent of its portfolio by sales. The New York Times quoted a spokeswoman as confirming that it would affect brands like Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Crystal Light and other beverages and desserts that contain dyes like Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1. Kraft Heinz is the first major food company to officially announce plans to stop using artificial colors. In April, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he had reached "an understanding" with food manufacturers to remove commonly used artificial food dyes from their products by 2026.
