Nestlé to Phase Out Controversial Cancer-Linked Ingredients


The company faced accusations of using carcinogenic materials - Getty


Focus on natural ingredients, consumer safety, and regulatory shifts


Nestlé USA has announced a major reformulation effort: the company will remove artificial colors and controversial additives—such as Red 3 and Red 40—from all food and beverage products sold in the U.S. by mid-2026. This follows its 2015 pledge, which was not fully implemented at the time .


What's changing:

90%+ of Nestlé’s U.S. portfolio is already free from synthetic dyes; the remaining items—such as Nesquik Strawberry Milk and Toll House cookie dough—will be reformulated by June 2026 .

The move aligns with similar pledges from Kraft Heinz and General Mills, aiming for dye-free products by 2027, with some school-centric items cleared by mid-2026 .


Regulation & public pressure:


U.S. states like California and West Virginia have already banned artificial dyes in schools.

From 2027, Texas will mandate warning labels on food items containing additives banned in places like the EU, Canada, and Australia .

In January 2025, the FDA banned the dye Red 3 due to its demonstrated carcinogenicity in animal studies.

Scientific and consumer health context:


Artificial food dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5) have been linked to ADHD-like behaviors in children, hormonal disturbances, and potential carcinogenic effects in animal models .

A 2024 North Carolina study found that 1 in 5 U.S. food and drink items still contain these synthetic colors .

Sugar-rich and additive-heavy ultra‑processed foods have been associated with increased cancer risk (e.g., esophageal), obesity, and related metabolic disorders .


 Natural alternatives:


Researchers and industry leaders recommend plant-based colorants (e.g., beetroot red, annatto, turmeric) as safer, non-toxic substitutes. However, they note this transition may impact product taste, texture, and stability, and ongoing studies are evaluating these effects.


 Sources:

“Nestlé says it will remove artificial dyes from US foods by 2026” (AP)  

Reuters: “Nestle USA

 to phase out use of synthetic food colors by mid‑2026”  

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