PepsiCo Inc. just announced a new $1 billion plan to reduce the artificial ingredients in its food portfolio. They have a goal to prohibit authorization for some synthetic food colorings and remove others from the market by the end of next year. Ramon Laguarta, the company’s chair and chief executive officer, revealed this plan during an April 24 conference call, emphasizing PepsiCo’s commitment to providing healthier options for consumers.
The company has promised to take big strides in its task. Today, over 60% of its portfolio is artificial color free! In the coming months, PepsiCo will revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings: Citrus Red No. 3 and FD&C Red No. 40. Furthermore, the company plans to partner with other industry stakeholders to remove six additional synthetic dyes by the end of 2024. The dyes used in it are FD&C Green No 2, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2. In addition to all of Orange B, FD&C Yellow No.
Laguarta noted that this move is another testament to PepsiCo’s willingness to become a trailblazer for the food sector in moving towards health-driven innovations and changes. He noted, “We’ve been leading the transformation of the industry now for a long time on sodium reduction, sugar reduction and better fats.”
PepsiCo’s most popular products, such as Lay’s and Tostitos, will be free from artificial colors by the end of 2025. Together, our collective commitment to this pledge represents a positive step towards providing consumers with more options and transparency about artificial ingredients in their food. “Every consumer will have the opportunity to choose what they prefer,” Laguarta explained.
Liana Werner-Gray, a health advocate and author best known for her opposition to artificial additives in food, praised PepsiCo’s move. She remarked, “This is a huge win for public health and long overdue.” Werner-Gray has lived dye-free and knows firsthand that natural alternatives are key to our health and happiness.
We commend PepsiCo’s commitment to address artificial colors in their products. They are unapologetic advocates of the science behind their snack safety, advancing transparency in our food system for everyone. The business understands that consumers’ wants and needs are changing and is positioning itself ahead of those changes.
The process to revoke authorization for these synthetic food colorings signifies a crucial step in PepsiCo’s mission to improve food quality across its product range. By leading with natural, PepsiCo wants to develop a new benchmark for the food industry.
Leave a Reply