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Nestlé USA announced on June 15 that it has completely eliminated food, drug, and cosmetic (FD&C) colors from all food and beverage products it sells in the United States.
The synthetic dyes, long used to brighten cereals, drink mixes, confections, and other items, have been replaced with natural alternatives, with Nestlé saying the substitutions were made without sacrificing taste, appearance, or quality.
“Last summer, we committed to accelerating the removal of FD&C colors from our U.S. food and beverage portfolio,” Nestlé USA CEO Martin Thompson said in a statement. “Today, I’m proud to share that we have fully eliminated them.”
Thompson called the work deliberate and consumer-focused.
“Behind this milestone is thoughtful work to make these changes the right way,” he said.
“Food safety and quality remained central throughout that work, and our products continue to meet the highest standards.”
The company said it had already removed the colors from approximately 90 percent of its U.S. products in the past decade ahead of the final push. FD&C colors are petroleum-based synthetic additives approved for use in foods, drugs, and cosmetics, such as Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5.
“Updated recipes are already arriving on shelves, and consumers can check product labels for more information,” the company said in a statement.
Nestlé USA isn’t the only major manufacturer to reduce synthetic additives. In July 2025, dozens of ice cream companies, more than 90 percent of the U.S. market, including Nestlé USA, pledged to remove artificial colors from dairy products by 2027 or 2028.
The commitment was announced at a Washington event with Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy and Agriculture Department officials. The initiative targeted dyes such as Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Blue No. 2.
The Make America Healthy Again initiative advanced by the Trump administration has worked to address rising chronic health issues in children, including diabetes and developmental conditions.
Kennedy welcomed Nestlé’s recent announcement on social media.
“Thank you, @Nestle, for eliminating synthetic dyes from your products. Nestlé stepped up and delivered. Now it’s time for every food company operating in America to do the same and help Make America Healthy Again,” he posted June 18 on X.
Kimberly Hayek is a reporter for The Epoch Times. She covers California news and has worked as an editor and on scene at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2018 migrant caravan crisis.
