Mondelez International plans to replace synthetic colours with natural alternatives in candy products, reported Reuters.
The maker of products such as Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish has not yet provided a timeline for the transition.
The move aligns with evolving consumer preferences and local regulations, according to the Chicago-based food company, which also owns brands such as Oreo and Milka.
In 2015, Mondelez declared its intention to eliminate artificial colours and flavours from many of its brands by 2020.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary have urged food companies to remove synthetic dyes by the end of next year.
They have primarily depended on companies making these changes voluntarily. So far, they have not implemented any regulatory measures to enforce this change.
Kennedy and Makary have been advocating for modifications due to health issues associated with artificial colours, which have been connected to conditions such as ADHD and obesity.
However, scientists indicate that further research is needed to substantiate these claims.
Until now, Mondelez had not joined other large food producers, such as Kraft Heinz and Danone, in pledging reformulation.
Earlier this year, Mondelez CEO Dirk van de Put noted that the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which supports Kennedy’s initiatives, could lead to increased cost pressures for the company, potentially resulting in higher prices for US consumers.
Despite these plans, some Oreo varieties, including seasonal Halloween editions, continue to use synthetic dyes.
Several US states are taking independent action to limit artificial dyes, with West Virginia enacting a law to ban the sale of foods containing synthetic dyes starting 1 January 2028.
Centre for Science in the Public Interest scientist Thomas Galligan said: “The state level crackdown on food dye is motivating for these companies.
“It’s a stronger motivator than the request for a voluntary phase-out from the FDA.”
Earlier this month, The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a proposal to revoke the regulation that permits the use of Orange B, a petroleum-derived dye, as a colour additive in food products.
Its decision came from the assessment that the use of Orange B had been effectively abandoned by the industry, rendering the current regulation redundant.
The FDA implemented a tracker to monitor voluntary pledges by industries to remove petroleum-based food dyes.
