Another Major Food Company Says It Will Remove Artificial Food Dyes From Cereal, K-12 School Foods

Big food giants are finally responding to pressure from the Trump administration and parents across America. General Mills and Kraft Heinz now plan to remove artificial dyes from cereals, school foods, and retail products in a major shift toward cleaner ingredients.

Key Facts:

General Mills announced plans to remove all artificial colors from U.S. cereals and K-12 school foods by summer 2026.
The company will eliminate artificial dyes from its entire U.S. retail product line by the end of 2027.
CEO Jeff Harmening said the move is driven by evolving consumer expectations and trust in the brand.
Kraft Heinz also pledged to stop using FD&C synthetic dyes in new products and phase them out entirely by 2027.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the FDA have called for eliminating petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply.

The Rest of The Story:

General Mills is stepping up its reformulation strategy by eliminating certified artificial dyes from all cereals and foods served in K-12 schools across the U.S. by the summer of 2026.

The rest of the company’s retail products will follow suit, with a complete phaseout by the end of 2027.

“We are leading the way on removing certified colors in cereals and K-12 foods by next summer,” said CEO Jeff Harmening.

He added that “the vast majority” of General Mills products already avoid certified dyes.

Kraft Heinz, another major food player, made a parallel announcement, stating it will end the use of synthetic dyes in new and existing products by 2027.

This shift comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary unveiled plans in April to eliminate petroleum-based dyes from the U.S. food and medicine supply.

The FDA identified six synthetic dyes to be removed by the end of 2025.

JUST IN 🚨 General Mills has entered the arena to take ARTIFICIAL COLORS OUT of their Food 🔥

This is a direct result of MAHA and MAGA

This is HUGE pic.twitter.com/pWrQko5nPw

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 18, 2025

Commentary:

For years, big food companies ignored growing concerns over artificial food dyes, even as parents, schools, and advocacy groups pushed for cleaner ingredients.

But with President Trump back in office and a Health and Human Services Secretary like RFK Jr. taking a bold stand, the tide is finally turning.

This is the kind of policy shift that only happens with strong executive leadership.

Under the previous administration, these companies had zero incentive to change.

Now, they’re racing to adapt to new expectations set from the top down.

What we’re seeing is a blend of market pressure and policy clarity.

Parents want safer food, and now the government is making it clear that synthetic dyes—linked in some studies to behavioral and health issues in children—have no place in school cafeterias or kitchen pantries.

General Mills didn’t suddenly become a health company.

They moved because pressure mounted and leadership applied it where it counts.

Harmening’s remarks about “trust” and “accessibility” show these firms are now playing defense, repositioning their brands to survive a changing regulatory and cultural landscape.

It’s also a signal that public pressure works when it’s combined with political will.

Trump’s return to the White House brought a renewed focus on American health and transparency in the food system.

His administration, with RFK Jr. at HHS, is showing how government can act in the public interest without overreaching.

This is good news for families, good news for kids, and a win for common sense.

We don’t need petroleum-based chemicals in breakfast cereals.

And now, thanks to a push from the top, we’re on track to get them out of our food supply entirely.

The Bottom Line:

General Mills and Kraft Heinz are removing artificial dyes from their products under pressure from the Trump administration and growing consumer demand.

With federal agencies now fully engaged, the era of synthetic food coloring appears to be ending.

This marks a major health and policy win for American families—and it wouldn’t be happening without strong leadership from the top.