PepsiCo to remove artificial ingredients from popular food items by end of 2025
Heeding the call to ban artificial ingredients by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., PepsiCo isn't wasting any time getting started.
Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo Inc. chair and chief executive officer, said in an April 24 conference call that the company will reduce artificial ingredients and has already begun doing so, as Food Business News reported.
"We've been leading the transformation of the industry now for a long time on sodium reduction, sugar reduction and better fats," Laguarta said.
"Sixty percent-plus of our (portfolio) today doesn't have any artificial colors," he said — and the company is "undergoing that transition."
Laguarta cited examples such as Lay's and Tostitos, which "will be out of artificial colors by the end of this year."
He added, "So, we're well underway."
RFK Jr. and Dr. Martin Makary, U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, announced a ban on petroleum-based synthetic dyes from America's food supply last Tuesday.
As the HHS noted in its news release, among the steps to be taken are "establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives."
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"Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings — Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B — within the coming months; and working with industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes — FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2 — from the food supply by the end of next year."
Certified nutritionist and "Make America Healthy Again" supporter Liana Werner-Gray told Fox News Digital, "This is a huge win for public health and long overdue."
Werner-Gray is the author "The Earth Diet," which began as a blog about what she ate to help promote healing and remedy her health problems after she was diagnosed with cancer.
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The Earth Diet, she said, is "all about going back to nature and eating foods from nature, eating real nutrition, eating foods that God provides us with naturally," she told Fox News Digital.
"I've personally eliminated artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and others from my diet over 16 years ago when I started The Earth Diet, living a natural lifestyle," Werner-Gray said.
She would suffer from frequent major mood swings, anxiety, skin breakouts and energy crashes, as well as strong impulsive urges to eat processed food, she said.
"Once I removed these dyes and switched to natural, whole-food-based alternatives, those symptoms went away, too," Werner-Gray said, adding that her clients have reported similar outcomes.
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In Werner-Gray's opinion, the manipulation of food has gone on far too long, she said.
"This move by the FDA under Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary's leadership is a pivotal step toward restoring integrity in our food system," she said.
"It's time we raise the standard. Clean, natural and nourishing food should be the norm, not a luxury."
In the April 24 conference call, PepsiCo's CEO noted that its chips, puffs and other snacks are safe to consume and that the company stands by the existing science, according to reports.
"Every consumer will have the opportunity to choose what they prefer," said Laguarta.
Fox News Digital reached out to PepsiCo for additional comment.