General Mills announced plans to eliminate all artificial colors from its U.S. foods by 2027, with the removal of synthetic dyes from cereals and foods served in schools set to take effect by the summer of 2025.
The big picture: Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEO of General Mills, expressed the company’s commitment to removing certified colors from cereals and K-12 foods by the next summer, in response to the trust families place in their products.
- The removal of artificial colors will primarily impact a specific portion of the foods served in schools, as the vast majority are already served without certified colors, with only 85% of the U.S. retail portfolio currently made without artificial colors.
- General Mills’ decision follows a similar move by Kraft Heinz, a well-known ketchup and macaroni and cheese brand, who also recently announced plans to eliminate artificial dye from their products.
Driving the news: The announcement coincides with increasing scrutiny on artificial dyes and synthetic colors by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading to discussions and meetings with companies like General Mills and Kraft Heinz, as reported by Bloomberg.
- Notably, the FDA recently banned Red No. 3 dye in food and drugs, with plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the U.S. food supply as part of efforts to address concerns related to artificial coloring.
- Several states, including California and West Virginia, have taken steps to ban artificial dyes in response to growing health and safety concerns associated with these additives.