All articles tagged with #natural dyes
Mars is reformulating M&M’s, Skittles, and Starburst to use natural colorants (e.g., beet juice, turmeric, spirulina, beta-carotene) instead of synthetic dyes, following FDA dye phase-outs and rising wellness trends; the natural versions will be sold on Amazon at the same price, though achieving vibrant blue and brown remains challenging, and the traditional versions may still use synthetic dyes for now.
M&M's will switch to natural dyes and remove blue and brown from their color lineup due to cost and production issues with spirulina-based blue dye; other colors will be dyed with natural sources like beets and turmeric, with an August rollout on Amazon for the new lineup (excluding blue and brown). Mars aims to reintroduce a natural blue and brown by 2028 after upgrading production lines; artificial-color versions will remain on shelves for now, reflecting a broader trend of dye changes across snacks.
Indian farmers are increasingly cultivating butterfly pea flowers, which are gaining global demand as natural colorants and health supplements, transforming local livelihoods and creating new business opportunities despite regulatory and quality challenges.
Food manufacturers are phasing out artificial dyes in favor of natural alternatives, but maintaining vibrant colors remains a challenge due to consumer expectations and the cost of natural dyes, with some companies like Sam's Club making significant progress while facing resistance from shoppers accustomed to bright, processed food colors.
Kraft Heinz plans to remove artificial dyes from all its foods by 2027, including Jell-O, which faces challenges in replicating vibrant colors like green using natural ingredients such as spirulina and turmeric, often resulting in higher costs and altered flavors.