Walmart to Remove Artificial Dyes, Additives by 2027

Walmart announced it will remove synthetic food dyes and about 30 other additives from its U.S. private‑label brands (Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed and bettergoods) by January 2027, affecting roughly 1,000 products. The company said about 90% of its private‑label foods are already dye‑free and that reformulations — covering snacks, baked goods, drinks, frostings and prepared foods — will roll out while it works to keep prices steady. Walmart identified 11 colorants to be removed, including common FD&C dyes Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, and Blue 1 and 2, and also plans to phase out additives such as titanium dioxide and azodicarbonamide. The company said the move responds to consumer demand for simpler ingredient lists and comes amid regulatory and political pressure, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s “Make America Healthy Again” push, recent FDA actions and state bans targeting FD&C dyes. Industry analysts and advocates say Walmart's scale will likely push suppliers and competitors to follow, while food‑safety experts caution that large‑scale reformulation can reshape supply chains and that some items on the removal list are already banned or rarely used.