Kraft Heinz to Eliminate FD&C Colors from US Products by 2027

Kraft Heinz says it will no longer launch new products containing Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) colors in the United States, effective immediately, and plans to fully remove the remaining artificial dyes from its domestic portfolio by the end of 2027.

According to the company, nearly 90% of Kraft Heinz’s US products are already free of FD&C colors, measured by net sales. For the small share of products that still use these ingredients, Kraft Heinz has developed a three-part strategy aimed at removal, replacement, or reinvention of color additives. The approach includes eliminating colors that are not critical to the consumer experience, replacing FD&C colors with natural alternatives, and creating new shades where natural substitutes are not viable.

“The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we have been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio,” says Pedro Navio, President of North America, Kraft Heinz. He cites past reformulations, including the removal of artificial ingredients from Kraft Mac & Cheese in 2016 and the continued use of only natural tomato color in Heinz Ketchup.

Although FD&C colors remain approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, Kraft Heinz acknowledges consumer demand for simpler ingredients as a factor in its decision. The company also says it is working with licensees to encourage similar changes across branded products.

As part of its broader commitment to quality and nutrition, Kraft Heinz continues to invest in agricultural sourcing and recipe reformulation. In recent years, Kraft Heinz has revised more than 1,000 product recipes to enhance nutritional value. These changes include adding protein and fiber and reducing sugar, salt, and saturated fat, says the company. By the end of 2025, the company expects to have cut nearly 55 million pounds of sugar from its portfolio.

Kraft Heinz says that the removal of FD&C colors aligns with its mission to provide food that is nutritious, affordable, and accessible to all consumers in the United States.