Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, is reshaping its grocery shelves with a sweeping change: by 2027, it will phase out synthetic dyes and more than 30 other controversial ingredients from its store-branded food products.
In a Wednesday press release, the company confirmed that synthetic colorings — including the widely used FD&C Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 — will be eliminated from Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods items. Other additives set for removal include Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Bromate, Butylparaben, and Azodicarbonamide — chemicals often criticized by health advocates but still permitted under U.S. food safety law.
Walmart private brand foods are getting even better.
We’re removing synthetic dyes and 30 other ingredients from all Walmart private brand food items – putting our customers at the heart of every bite. Read more: https://t.co/HDDtjyTrIJ pic.twitter.com/vYVkQ2MFWP
— Walmart News (@WalmartNews) October 1, 2025
Walmart framed the change as a direct response to consumer demand. “Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients — and we’ve listened,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S.
“By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.” The retailer also noted that nearly 90% of its private-label foods are already dye-free, positioning this as the final leg in a broader clean-label push.
The decision places Walmart in step with a growing trend across the food industry. Companies like PepsiCo, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, and Hershey have each announced plans in recent years to purge artificial dyes and additives from their product lines. What began as a niche consumer movement — often associated with health-conscious parents — has now grown into an industry-wide pivot driven by shifting expectations around transparency and safety.
The federal government is watching closely. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised Walmart’s announcement, celebrating that “big food brands are listening” and taking action. Kennedy, who has made clean-label food reform a centerpiece issue, revealed in July that nearly 35% of the U.S. food industry has now committed to phasing out artificial dyes.
Back in March, during a private White House session with executives from General Mills, Kellogg’s, and other major food companies, Kennedy underscored that eliminating synthetic additives was “a top priority of the Trump administration.”
For families, the shift may feel overdue. For the food industry, it’s a sign that the clean-label movement has moved from the margins into the mainstream — and that even the biggest players are betting the future of food on simplicity.
