Nestle to eliminate artificial food dyes by mid-2026 in win for MAHA

Nestle stated on Wednesday that it will eliminate artificial dyes from its food and beverages by mid-2026, joining a number of other major food companies in supporting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.

This includes removing all artificial colors from across its extensive US brand lineup, such as KitKat, Hot Pockets, Stouffer's, Häagen-Dazs, and Purina pet foods. The company emphasized that its decision reflects consumer demand for "nutrition, quality, and convenience," according to a press release.

In April, Secretary Kennedy and the FDA announced that all petroleum-based synthetic dyes would be taken out of the nation's food supply, with voluntary participation from food manufacturers. Additional food and beverage giants such as General Mills, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks pledged earlier this month to eliminate such dyes from their products within the next two years.

The Trump administration's MAHA initiative aims to "lead a coordinated transformation of our food, health, and scientific systems" to ensure that "all Americans - today and in the future - live longer, healthier lives, supported by systems that prioritize prevention, well-being, and resilience." Secretary Kennedy, on a mission to combat childhood diseases stemming from the nation's food supply, has referred to the color additives as "poisonous compounds" that offer "no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development."

Nestle's US CEO Marty Thompson issued a statement, saying, "We are always looking for different ways to offer great tasting, compelling choices for our consumers. As their diverse dietary preferences and nutritional needs evolve, we evolve with them." Nestle said 90 percent of its current food and beverage supply does not include the synthetic additives it has pledged to eliminate.