Nestle makes U-turn on cancer-linked ingredients... here are the foods set to look and taste different

Nestle announced it will eliminate artificial colors from its foods and beverages sold in the US by mid-2026.

It’s the latest in a series of food companies to make the pledge, after Kraft Heinz and General Mills vowed last week to strip the additives from their products by 2027.

General Mills also plans to remove artificial dyes from its cereals sold in the US and from all foods served in American schools by the middle of next year.

On Sunday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill requiring foods made with artificial dyes or additives to contain a new safety label starting in 2027. The label would say they contain ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the U.K.

The move is a popular one. About two-thirds of Americans want new restrictions on major companies behind the most popular processed foods, and favor reformulating popular products without added sugar, dyes, and preservatives.

Both California and West Virginia have recently banned artificial dyes in foods served in schools.

Nestle has pledged to remove artificial dyes before. Early in 2015, the company said it would remove artificial flavors and colors from its products by the end of that year. But the promise didn’t hold.

Earlier this year, the FDA announced a long-awaited ban on the use of red 3 dye in foods. A Nestle representative previously said that the majority of their recipes no longer contain synthetic colors, including Red 3.

For products that still use the dye, such as Nesquik strawberry milk or Toll House Funfetti cookie dough, they mentioned they have been ‘already been actively removing it.’

In April, Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency would take steps to eliminate synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry.

Nearly one in five food items and beverages in the US contain synthetic dyes such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, both of which have been linked to hyperactivity in children, thyroid issues, behavioral problems, and cancer.

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Red 40 is among a group of dyes that contain benzidine, a known carcinogen for both humans and animals.

While regulators permit trace amounts deemed ‘safe,’ concerns remain.

Additionally, Canadian scientists have found that Red 40 (also known as Allura Red) can disrupt gut function, impairing nutrient absorption and increasing the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

They warn that prolonged exposure may weaken the body’s defenses.

Some of Nestle’s most famous products could be reformulated or pulled from shelves.

Colorful candies may become a bit less vivid, strawberry milk powder less pink, and instead of using red and green chocolate chips in holiday cookies, regular chocolate may be all that’s available.

In his vow to make food companies strip dyes from their products, RFK and fellow HHS officials floated the idea of using natural alternatives to popular dyes like Red 40 and Blue 1.

'For companies that are currently using petroleum-based red dye, try watermelon juice or beet juice,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at the time. ‘For companies currently combining petroleum-based yellow chemical and red dyes together, try carrot juice.'

It is not clear whether removing synthetic dyes will change the taste or the texture of the foods, or if any consumer favorites are on the chopping block.