Walmart is the latest company to say it will remove synthetic dyes from its private-label food brands, as well as 30 other additives and chemicals, citing changing consumer preferences as the reason.

Reformulated products will begin rolling out in the coming months, with completed rollout expected by January 2027.

The change includes all Walmart U.S. private brands such as Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods. Walmart is working with private brand suppliers to adjust formulations and source alternative ingredients.

Walmart is removing 11 synthetic dyes from its products, namely:

• Blue 1
• Blue 2
• Green 3 
• Red 3     
• Red 4     
• Red 40
• Yellow 5
• Yellow 6
• Citrus Red
• Orange B
• Canthaxanthin.

An additional 30 ingredients, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes will be phased out:

• Titanium Dioxide
• Azodicarbonamide
• Dicotyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS)
• Sucrose Polyester
• Toluene
• Anisole
• Lye
• Morpholine
• Propylene oxide
• Sodium stearyl fumarate
• Stearyl tartrate
• Ficin
• Synthetic trans fatty acid
• Butylparaben
• Lactylated esters of mono- and diglycerides (OLEON)
• Methylparaben
• Propylparaben
• Calcium bromate
• Potassium bromate
• Bromated flour
• Neotame
• Advantame
• Phthalates
• Potassium bisulfite
• Potassium nitrate
• Potassium nitrite
• Simplesse
• Sodium Ferrocyanide (aka Yellow Prussiate of Soda)
• Sucroglycerides
• Talc.

Walmart is the latest company to pledge to remove artificial dyes from its food products following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) April announcement urging industry to cease the use of synthetic colorants, in line with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s (RFK Jr.'s) "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda.

Some states—including California, Louisiana, and others—have also enacted their own bans on certain food dyes and additives, putting pressure on industry to reformulate their products.

Additional companies that have pledged to end the use of synthetic food colorants include, but are not limited to, the Campbell’s Company, Conagra Brands, Nestlé USA, General Mills, and The Kraft Heinz Company.