Walmart said Wednesday it will remove synthetic dyes from all its private-brand products by January 2027, after facing pressure from the Trump administration.
Walmart announced it would eliminate synthetic dyes and an additional 30 ingredients, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes from its U.S. store-brand food products.
The company said it would begin working with suppliers to adjust formulations and source alternative ingredients for its more than 1000 products containing the ingredients.
This change would apply to Walmart’s Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed and BetterGoods brands.
The announcement comes on the back of pressure from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the FDA, who have pledged to remove petroleum-based food dyes from all U.S. consumer products.
Sam’s Club, the Walmart membership chain, announced in June it would be removing artificial colors and 40 other ingredients from its products by the end of the year in a new campaign.
Crucial Quote
“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients and we’ve listened. By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about,” said Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner in a press release.
Key Background
Walmart joins other food brands including Kraft Heinz, Nestle, Hershey Co., and Conagra Brands that have all committed to eliminating petroleum-based synthetic dyes in coming years. WalMart is the most popular retail brand in the U.S. according to Brand Finance BrandBeta US. The new mandate from the FDA and HHS has motivated companies to voluntarily commit to removing the ingredients from their products. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called petroleum-based synthetic dyes “poisonous,” causing “measurable harm” to the health and wellbeing of children. While some links have been drawn between synthetic dyes and harm to children, experts and scientists have not been able to ascertain causal evidence. A National Institutes of Health study found that ultra-processed foods were particularly to blame for some poor health outcomes in adults and children. Under the Biden administration, the FDA found that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.
Forbes Valuation
$101 billion. That’s how much Walmart heir Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is worth, making her the richest woman in the world. Her brothers Rob and Jim are worth $121 billion and $119 billion, respectively..
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