Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on Red No. 3, a transition that affects a large number of products across the food and beverage industry. The additive is used in many popular grocery items, including candy, soda, baked goods, and more. To comply with new federal guidelines, brands are expected to phase out Red No. 3 completely by 2027.
And while that deadline is more than a year away, the FDA has also placed guidelines on other FD&C (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) colors, including Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Blue No. 2. These petroleum-based dyes are expected to be removed by the end of 2026.
Industry leaders are wasting no time implementing changes to their brands well ahead of the target date. In July, Kraft Heinz announced plans to remove FD&C colors from its products. Soon after, Hershey’s and Blue Bell issued statements about their own timelines regarding the change.
Recently, Sam’s Club not only committed to eliminating FD&C colors from its Member’s Mark brand, but also artificial flavors, aspartame, saccharin, high fructose corn syrup, and a number of other additives. Now, its sister store, Walmart, is making headlines after sharing its own plans to remove over 30 ingredients from the store’s products.
Walmart Plans To Remove More Than 30 Ingredients From Its Private Label Products
On Oct. 1, Walmart published a statement regarding its upcoming plans to eliminate a number of additives from its private label brands. For reference, this list includes Great Value, Freshness Guaranteed, Marketside, and the most recent addition, Bettergoods, which launched in 2024.
According to the press release, the retailer is in the process of replacing select preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes in its products.
“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients—and we’ve listened,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S. “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”
You might be surprised to learn that 90 percent of the store’s private-label products in the United States are already free from synthetic dyes. But Walmart still has a long road ahead before its milestones are completed.
According to NBC News, the Arkansas-based retailer has been hard at work reformulating the remainder of the store’s non-compliant items. Walmart’s product developers have been testing natural alternatives such as spirulina and beet powder in the store’s recipes. Some of the revamped private label products are expected to look nearly identical, whereas others may lack the same vibrant hue you’re used to seeing. In addition, products that do not have a sufficient natural alternative, such as bright blue sports drinks, may now be colorless and feature redesigned eye-catching packaging instead.
It’s not clear which of the retailer’s products are still undergoing testing, but Walmart says customers can expect reformulated versions to roll out in the coming months, with the final phase of the transition to be completed by January 2027 at the latest.
