Food Companies Slow to Cut Artificial Dyes Despite RFK Jr. Push

Manufacturers cite cost, supply issues as reasons for delay in removing synthetic colors from products

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:15pm

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Nearly a year after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became U.S. health secretary and pushed food companies to ditch artificial dyes, many major brands are still slow to make the switch. While some have pledged to remove the synthetic colors by 2026 or 2027, others have not set any deadlines, citing logistical hurdles like cost and scarcity of natural ingredients as reasons for the delay.

Why it matters

Artificial food dyes have been linked to behavioral issues in children, and consumer advocates have long pushed for their removal. The slow pace of change highlights the challenges food manufacturers face in reformulating popular products, even in the face of government pressure and growing consumer demand for more natural ingredients.

The details

A Reuters review found that only two of the 15 largest U.S. food makers, Campbell's and Nestle, have pledged to remove artificial dyes by the end of 2026 as initially proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services under Kennedy. Seven others, including Kraft Heinz and Conagra Brands, have committed to eliminating them by the end of 2027. The remaining six, including Mondelez and Coca-Cola, have not made any promises, though some are introducing dye-free options. Manufacturers cite the cost of switching to natural dyes, as well as potential supply issues, as reasons for the delay.

  • In February 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became U.S. health secretary.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Kennedy, initially proposed a timeline for food companies to remove artificial dyes by the end of 2026.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. health secretary who pushed food companies to ditch artificial dyes.

The Campbell's Co

A soup maker that has pledged to remove artificial dyes before the end of 2026.

Nestle

A Switzerland-based food company that has pledged to remove artificial dyes before the end of 2026.

Kraft Heinz

A food company that has committed to eliminating artificial dyes by the end of 2027.

Conagra Brands

A food company that has committed to eliminating artificial dyes by the end of 2027.

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What they’re saying

“Something like red velvet cake, it needs to be red, so we're not going to sell gray velvet cake.”

— Sean Connolly, CEO of Conagra Brands (Reuters)

“These experiments have been done, and the results are not pretty for the food companies. Sales go down, and stockholders don't like that.”

— Marion Nestle, Professor emerita of health, nutrition and food studies at New York University (Reuters)

What’s next

The Department of Health and Human Services has asked the food industry to phase out artificial dyes from school foods by the upcoming school year, and from all foods starting in 2027.

The takeaway

The slow pace of change in removing artificial dyes from food products highlights the challenges food manufacturers face in reformulating popular items, even as consumer demand for more natural ingredients grows. The issue underscores the need for clearer federal regulations and standards around food additives to drive faster industry-wide change.