Walmart announced that it will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other ingredients from its private label products, including Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods.
The decision will impact more than 4,500 retail stores nationwide. Multiple food products will be reformulated, including baking goods, cereals, snacks, and sports drinks.
“Our customers have told us they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients and we’ve listened,” revealed Walmart US CEO John Furner. “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”
The removed dyes include blue dyes No. 1 and No. 2; green dye No. 3; red dyes No. 3, No. 4, and No. 40; yellow dyes No. 5 and No. 6; citrus red dye; orange B dye; and canthaxanthin.
The move comes as the Trump administration advances its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has advocated for restrictions on artificial dyes in food. In April, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced that several artificial dyes would be removed from the food supply by the end of 2026.
Other major food manufacturers have recently announced similar changes, including General Mills, which said it will eliminate dyes from cereals and K-12 school food.
According to Fox Business, a recent survey found 54 percent of shoppers check ingredient labels and 62 percent want more transparency in food products. Consumer demand for natural and organic options has grown steadily in recent years as more choices have become available.
Walmart said it is prepared to offset any potential price increases from the changes. The rollout is expected to begin in the coming months, with full implementation planned by 2027.
