PepsiCo to accelerate transition to natural ingredients
The company’s CEO reassured the public that PepsiCo‘s products are safe and that there is nothing to worry about.
USA – PepsiCo Inc. Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta announced that the company will expedite the process of phasing out artificial colors in its products to align with consumer preferences in response to recent actions taken by federal officials against synthetic dyes in food and beverages.
He stated that within the next couple of years, the company plans to transition all or most of its product portfolio to natural colors. Notably, brands like Lay’s and Tostitos are expected to eliminate artificial colors by the end of this year.
He emphasized that this shift can be managed in a pragmatic and organized manner, allowing consumers to choose their preferences without causing unnecessary panic or chaos.
“We’ve been leading the transformation of the industry for a long time in areas such as sodium reduction, sugar reduction, and healthier fats. Currently, over 60% of our U.S. food portfolio does not contain artificial colors, so we are actively undergoing this transition,” Laguarta stated.
At an April 22 news conference, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alongside Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced initiatives to eliminate all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply and encourage food companies to adopt natural alternatives.
Plans include the FDA phasing out the remaining six synthetic food dyes—Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and No. 6, and Blue No. 1 and No. 2—by the end of 2026.
Earlier this year, the FDA mandated that Red No. 3 be removed from U.S. foods and beverages by 2027, but now urges companies to act sooner.
Additionally, the FDA intends to revoke the authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B, while also expediting reviews of natural coloring alternatives such as calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, and butterfly pea flower extract.
Furthermore, the FDA will soon authorize four new natural color additives and accelerate the review and approval process for others.
At the press event, Kennedy described sugar as a “poison” fueling the U.S. diabetes epidemic and indicated that the National Institutes of Health will investigate other food additives to assess their safety.
He stressed that these harmful compounds provide no nutritional benefits and pose real dangers to children’s health and development.
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