The news: Walmart will remove artificial dyes and 30 other food additives from its private-label products by the beginning of 2027.
How we got here: Walmart has pledged to eliminate certain additives, some of which are already banned by federal agencies. This move follows similar commitments made by other food manufacturers.
- The Biden administration banned the synthetic dye Red No. 3 in January, giving manufacturers until January 15, 2027, to comply.
- In April, the HHS and the FDA announced they would phase out petroleum-based dyes in foods (several of which are on Walmart’s list) by the end of 2026.
- In June, leading food manufacturers including Kraft Heinz, General Mills and Nestle, promised to remove artificial dyes from food products after pressure from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.