Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.
PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.
It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.
Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip.
Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges. They're feeling pressure from federal regulators and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who are urging companies to eliminate synthetic food dyes by next year.
States have also been taking action. Texas recently passed a law requiring warning labels for foods that contain artificial ingredients. Other states are moving to ban or restrict synthetic dyes.
PepsiCo has sold Simply brand Doritos and Cheetos without artificial dyes since 2002. But those products aren’t designed to taste like the original chips.
The Simply NKD versions are supposed to taste like the originals. But unlike the originals, they don’t contain petroleum-based dyes. They also have shorter ingredient lists.
For example, Simply NKD Doritos and Simply NKD Cheetos don’t contain the flavor-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.
“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colors, not the flavor — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., in a statement.
PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as original varieties.
The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Hezbollah rockets hit 165 UNIFIL positions in Lebanon while targeting Israel, IDF reveals - 2The 15 Most Compelling Books in History
- 3‘Raising 10 red flags’: Is Israel’s army exhausted?
- 4Josh Duhamel's secret to the good life at 53? Wolverine peptides, ditching Hollywood and having another baby.
- 5Feeling wonder every day improves our health. Here’s how to do it.
- The Main 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association
- Fundamental Home Items Each Animal person Needs
- 5 Instructive Toy Brands for Youngsters
- 5 Must-Attempt Fascinating Dishes from Around the World
- Winter storms blanket the East, while the U.S. West is wondering: Where’s the snow?
- Criminal Guard Lawyer Expenses: What Would it be advisable for you to Hope to Pay?
- AbbVie plans to build out its presence in obesity market
- 3 back-to-back storms forecast to bring snow and surges of cold air across the Midwest to the Northeast
- The Best 10 Innovation Advancements of the Year
