Bye-Bye, Blue 1: Kraft Heinz Ditches Artificial Dyes—And Here’s Why You Should Care

Ever poured a neon-colored drink for your kid and thought, “Hmm... this doesn’t seem natural”? You’re not alone—and finally, big food companies are starting to listen.

Kraft Heinz Just Made a Big Move

This week, Kraft Heinz (yep, the folks behind Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Capri Sun, and more snack-time legends) announced they’re kicking artificial dyes to the curb by 2027. Even better, they’re immediately stopping the development of new products that contain synthetic colors.

That means your favorite mac & cheese, fruity drink mixes, and rainbow desserts are getting a cleaner, more natural makeover.

But Wait... What’s the Big Deal About Artificial Dyes?

Let’s break it down: Many synthetic dyes—like Red 40 and Yellow 5—are made from petroleum (yes, that petroleum), and have been linked to everything from hyperactivity in kids to long-term health concerns. Yikes.

Even though the FDA still allows their use, states like California and West Virginia are already taking action to limit them, and U.S. health officials are encouraging brands to clean up their act.

The Bright Side? Nature’s Got Plenty of Color.

Kraft Heinz isn’t new to this. They nixed artificial dyes from Kraft Mac & Cheese back in 2016, and classics like Heinz Ketchup never had them to begin with. Now they’re going all in.

Pedro Navio, Kraft Heinz's North America president, put it best: "The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors." And by 2027, that’ll be all of them.

What This Means for You

At our pharmacy, we love a bold move for better health—and this is one of them. Here’s how you can join the clean-label revolution right now:

🔍 Read your labels. Skip the dyes and go for foods colored with real ingredients like turmeric, beet juice, or spirulina.

🍓 Go fresh when you can. Real food doesn’t need a rainbow filter.

💬 Talk to us. Not sure what’s safe for your family? Our pharmacists are always happy to help decode those tricky ingredient lists.

A Cleaner Pantry Starts Here

This isn’t just a win for Kraft Heinz—it’s a win for all of us who want healthier, safer, and simpler food choices. And at our pharmacy, we’re all about cheering on changes that help our community live better.

Let’s raise a (naturally colored) juice box to that. 🥤🎉