Kraft Heinz to Eliminate All Chemical Dyes Over Next 2 Years

Business|Kraft Heinz to Eliminate All Chemical Dyes Over Next 2 Years

Some big changes are on the way for grape Kool-Aid drinks and wiggly blobs of cherry-flavored Jell-O.

On Tuesday, Kraft Heinz, the food giant best known for its ketchup and boxed Mac & Cheese, said it would remove all chemical dyes from its products by the end of 2027.

The company said the shift would affect only about 10 percent of its portfolio by sales. A spokeswoman confirmed it would affect brands like Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Crystal Light and other beverages and desserts that contain dyes like Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1.

Kraft Heinz is the first major food company to officially announce plans to stop using artificial colors. In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said he had reached “an understanding” with food manufacturers to remove commonly used artificial food dyes from their products by 2026.

Mr. Kennedy, as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda, has long criticized the artificial dyes used in processed foods as part of a larger food system he says contributes to chronic disease and poor health.

The agency hoped to encourage food companies to remove the dyes voluntarily, rather than go through the arduous and time-consuming process of changing food regulations, which could have devolved into a courtroom battle over science and safety.