Dive Brief:
- Utz Brands pledged to fully remove artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, the salty snacks maker said in a statement.
- The Pennsylvania-based company said 80% of its portfolio does not contain synthetic dyes, with several of its brands completely free of them.
- Utz joins a rapidly growing list of food companies, including The Campbell’s Company, Nestlé, General Mills and Kraft Heinz, that have pledged to eliminate artificial colors following pressure from the White House.
Dive Insight:
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to encourage food companies to voluntarily remove six synthetic dyes continues to pay off.
Companies are agreeing to transition to natural dyes even though Kennedy's legal authority to require these changes remains in question. Manufacturers' timelines vary, with most firms committing to remove artificial colors in 2026 or 2027.
Utz, a maker of chips, pretzels and other salty snacks, said in a statement that its decision to remove the colorings is a response to changing consumer tastes and an evolution in government regulatory initiatives. The 104-year-old food maker said it also plans to highlight its “real and simple product attributes” on select packages starting this fall.
Offering natural versions of flagship products is a similar strategy being invoked by PepsiCo. The snack giant plans to release versions of Cheetos and other popular brands without artificial colors and flavors, while repositioning its Lay’s and Tostitos brands to highlight their lack of synthetic additives.
