Conagra Brands, the parent company of Duncan Hines, Slim Jim, and a host of other popular food brands, announced this week it will phase out artificial colors from its products.
The decision by the company joins a growing movement among major food manufacturers to reformulate recipes with consumer health in mind.
In a statement released Wednesday, Conagra said it will remove artificial dyes from all its frozen foods by the end of 2025. This initiative covers well-known brands such as Marie Callender’s, Healthy Choice, and Birds Eye.
The company also committed to discontinuing the use of artificial colors in products sold to K-12 schools by the start of the 2026-27 academic year, and aims to eliminate artificial dyes from its entire product portfolio by the end of 2027.
The announcement comes as the food industry faces mounting scrutiny from both regulators and the public over the safety of synthetic food dyes. In January, U.S. regulators
banned the use of the dye Red 3 in foods, nearly 35 years after it was prohibited in cosmetics due to potential cancer risks.
Federal officials have pointed to further action. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary
stated in April that the agency would work to eliminate synthetic dyes from the food supply by the end of 2026, providing guidance and "regulatory flexibilities" to manufacturers.
Conagra’s decision aligns it with other major food companies that have recently pledged to remove artificial colors.
Kraft Heinz and General Mills both announced earlier this month that they will eliminate artificial dyes from their U.S. products by 2027.
Nestle also
revealed this week that it will remove artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverage offerings by mid-2026.
Many of Conagra’s products already utilize natural coloring agents, such as turmeric, known for its golden-orange color, in Vlasic kosher pickle spears and annatto, a seed known for its red-orange color, in Orville Redenbacher popcorn and frozen vegetable sides. However, synthetic dyes remain present in some other items.
For example, Duncan Hines’ Comstock County Cherry pie filling contains Red 40, and its Creamy Strawberries n’ Cream Frosting uses both Red 40 and Yellow 5. Swiss Miss Butterscotch pudding, another Conagra product, includes Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1.
The shift away from artificial colors is also a response to evolving consumer preferences. According to an AP-NORC
poll, about two-thirds of Americans support restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugars and synthetic dyes.
Legislative action has also played a role, with states such as
California and
West Virginia banning artificial dyes in food served in schools, and Texas requiring new safety labels on foods containing certain additives starting in 2027.
As the timeline for compliance approaches, Conagra said it will work to reformulate recipes and source natural alternatives for its extensive range of products.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
