Earlier this year, Frito-Lay joined other food industry giants in a commitment to remove all artificial dyes. The change is driven by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new guidelines prohibiting the use of petroleum-based synthetic food dyes such as Red No. 40, Yellow No. 6, and Blue No. 1.
The PepsiCo-owned company isn’t wasting any time and has already rolled out updated products well ahead of the FDA’s 2027 deadline. Earlier this year, Frito-Lay expanded its Simply line with four new chip options. More recently, it announced that Lay’s potato chips, including all Lay’s Baked and Kettle Cooked chips, will be free from all artificial flavors and colors by the end of this year.
Now, Doritos and Cheetos are the newest brands to debut revamped recipes.
Frito-Lay Launches Doritos Simply NKD and Cheetos Simply NKD
Say goodbye to the brightly colored dust left on your fingers after digging into a bag of Doritos or Cheetos. Frito-Lay just launched Simply NKD, a lineup that’s free from artificial dyes and flavors. At this time, the additions will join regular Doritos and Cheetos in stores, and it’s not clear if or when those will be pulled from shelves.
The new collection includes Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese, Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch, Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs, and Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin’ Hot.
Allrecipes / PepsiCo
According to the brand, this transformation took only eight weeks to develop, and focuses on a stripped-down version that doesn’t sacrifice the chips’ iconic flavor.
“We’re turning expectations upside down—removing artificial colors, not the flavor—and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S.
On Instagram, some longtime fans were skeptical of the updated chips. “Sticking with regular Cheetos,” said one user. “If it’s not red, it’s not spicy in my mind,” added another.
However, many others are excited about the change. “That’s how it should be!” exclaimed one commenter. “I haven’t felt this way since I came down the stairs on Christmas morning and saw bites in the cookies I left out!” chimed in another.
“Yes, please. If they taste the same and aren’t too expensive, I am game,” said one person in a separate Instagram post.
A 9.25-ounce bag of Doritos Simply NKD is priced at around $4.50 on Walmart’s website, compared to around $3 for the original variety in the same size. It’s not clear if these prices will shift as the versions made with artificial dyes eventually leave shelves.
The Simply NKD line is available for preorder online only at Walmart, but shoppers can expect to find all four chip varieties in stores starting Dec. 1.
