Full Breakdown
Nestlé USA Eliminates Artificial Colors from U.S. Portfolio
6/16/2026, 3:21:31 AM
Completion of Artificial Color Removal
Nestlé USA announced that, as of mid-2026, it has removed all Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) certified artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverage portfolio. The company reformulated affected items with natural color sources, stating that product taste, appearance and overall consumer experience were preserved.
Background & Context
The removal follows a June 2025 pledge that 90 % of Nestlé’s U.S. products were free of synthetic dyes. The initiative aligns with industry commitments after pressure from the White House and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. General Mills, Kraft Heinz and The Campbell’s Company have made similar pledges, and retailers such as Target have begun limiting sales of color-laden cereals. At the same time, the FDA eased labeling rules for natural colors and fast-tracked approvals for several new natural pigments, creating a regulatory environment that supports reformulation.
Data & Statistics
- By June 2025, >90 % of Nestlé’s U.S. portfolio lacked artificial colors.
- Over 20 Nestlé Vitality beverage products were switched to natural colors within five months.
- Less than 1 % of the portfolio contains high-fructose corn syrup; the company reports no aspartame in U.S. offerings.
- Natural Bliss creamers have four ingredients (milk, cream, sugar, natural flavor); Libby’s canned pumpkin is 100 % pumpkin; California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas use real cheese and preservative-free crusts.
Official Statements & Responses
CEO Marty Thompson said the color removal is a broader reformulation strategy that also reduces added sugars where feasible, expands low- and zero-sugar options such as Coffee Mate Zero Sugar, and enhances label transparency through an expanded SmartLabel platform. He emphasized the changes aim to meet evolving consumer health expectations while maintaining product quality.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Last summer, we committed to accelerating the removal of FD&C colors from our US food and beverage portfolio. Today, I’m proud to share that we have fully eliminated them,” — Marty Thompson, CEO, Nestlé USA
- “In the products where these ingredients were previously used, we removed or replaced them with alternatives – while maintaining the quality, taste and experience consumers expect,” — Marty Thompson, CEO, Nestlé USA
- “This work didn’t happen overnight,” — Marty Thompson, CEO, Nestlé USA
- “It also means anticipating where consumer expectations are headed — and making changes today to meet them.” — Marty Thompson, CEO, Nestlé USA
What’s Next
Nestlé plans to broaden SmartLabel disclosures to give shoppers easier access to detailed ingredient information. The company will also expand its functional-food line, including Vital Pursuit frozen meals designed for consumers using GLP-1 medications, and continue launching clean-label, low-sugar products across its brands.
