Dive Brief:
- The Campbell’s Company plans to fully remove artificial colors from its food and beverage products by next August.
- Campbell’s said the move will impact a limited number of brands as the vast majority of items it sells already use natural dyes.The company will use annatto and purple carrot juice concentrate for its Lance crackers and V8 Splash, noting it will also remove artificial colors from snack and cookie brands such as Jay’s, Archway and Stella D’oro.
- The CPG manufacturer joins a host of food companies, including Nestlé, General Mills and Kraft Heinz, that have pledged to remove artificial colors from their portfolios following pressure from the White House.
Dive Insight:
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has moved aggressively to prod companies to voluntarily remove six synthetic dyes by 2027. Although Kennedy lacks the legal authority to mandate these changes, most food manufacturers have agreed.
In a statement, Campbell’s said it has “been actively reviewing our portfolio and tracking the evolving regulatory environment.” The snack and meals giant also noted that consumers have been moving toward healthier foods that have simpler, recognizable ingredients.
“This move [to fully transition away from synthetic dyes] reflects both consumer preferences and our commitment to making great food,” the company said.
Campbell’s noted that some of its brands have been using natural colors for a long time. Goldfish, one of the company’s billion-dollar products, has used colors sourced from plants for more than 15 years. Red colored Goldfish, for example, come from a mix of beet juice concentrate and paprika extracted from sweet red peppers, the company said.
