Walmart has just announced it will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other ingredients like artificial sweeteners, fat substitutes, and certain preservatives from all of its private brands.
This major change will affect food products labeled with the brands Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods.
A news release called the move “one of the largest private brand reformulations in retail history,” but noted that about 90 percent of Walmart’s private brand food products in the U.S. are already free from synthetic dyes. The company says it recently surveyed customers and found that 62 percent of “want more transparency” and 54 percent “review food ingredients.”
“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients— and we’ve listened,” Walmart President and CEO John Furner says. “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”
The company provided a full list of ingredients that will be eliminated, including many FD&C dyes and titanium dioxide. The ingredients will be removed from all of Walmart’s private brand products by January 2027 “at the latest.”
Walmart is just the latest company to commit to removing controversial ingredients from packaged foods. Tyson Foods has already dropped many synthetic dyes from its brands, and Kraft Heinz plans to remove all artificial food colors from products by the end of 2027.
Dining and Cooking