Campbell’s has announced it will eliminate all synthetic food dyes from its products beginning in fiscal year 2026, aligning with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. The company confirmed the change in a press release dated September 3, stating, “In the second half of our 2026 fiscal year (March–August), we will no longer produce any of our food or beverages with FD&C colors.”
The company said the transition supports its broader commitment to offering “simpler, recognizable ingredients” in products such as V8 Splash and Lance crackers, which will now be colored using natural sources like annatto and purple carrot juice concentrate. Additional brands under the Campbell umbrella, including Jay’s, O-Ke-Doke, Tom’s, Archway, and Stella D’oro, will also be free from synthetic dyes.
This move follows growing pressure from the Trump administration and health advocates led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made the removal of petroleum-based food dyes a central focus of MAHA. Kennedy, alongside FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, announced earlier this year a sweeping initiative to ban petroleum-based dyes in both foods and pharmaceuticals by late 2026.
In a press conference held in April, Makary highlighted the dangers posed by synthetic dyes, stating, “For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals.” He cited studies linking these dyes to ADHD, obesity, insulin resistance, cancer, and other serious health conditions.
Kennedy held meetings in March with leading food industry executives, including those from PepsiCo, Kraft, Heinz, Tyson, General Mills, and Kellogg’s, urging them to phase out artificial dyes. Following those talks, companies like Nestle and PepsiCo have made similar announcements, joining a growing list of brands adapting to the MAHA health agenda.
Campbell’s decision signals a broader industry shift, driven not by consumer trends alone, but by a federal mandate focused on protecting children’s health and restoring trust in the American food supply. As the 2026 deadline approaches, more food manufacturers are expected to fall in line with this sweeping reform effort.
