Big News: Walmart Phasing Out 30+ Artificial Dyes & Ingredients

Walmart has just announced plans to remove synthetic dyes from its private-brand foods sold in the US! The store has also revealed its intention to eliminate an additional 30 ingredients, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.

A complete list of the dyes and other ingredients targeted for elimination can be found on Walmart.com.

This change is in response to an increased consumer demand for transparency in the food industry. The store brands impacted by this announcement include Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods.

Walmart reports that its customers are now more curious than ever about what’s in their food, and the company has cited these evolving customer preferences as another reason it’s shifting away from artificial ingredients.

Walmart is already working with private brand suppliers to source alternative ingredients while maintaining the taste of its products. It sounds like they’re moving quickly, and customers can expect to see some of the reformulated grocery items appearing on store shelves throughout the coming months.

The retailer estimates that its private-label products will be completely transformed by January 2027. While that may sound like an ambitious goal, about 90% of Walmart’s private brand food products are already free from synthetic dyes in the US.

Many consumers see this as a win for “clean” labels, natural ingredients, and transparency in the food industry. Others are watching to see how the cost of more natural ingredients, product reformulation, and supply-chain issues will be passed on to customers.

What we do know for sure is that this is BIG news in the grocery world. Walmart isn’t the first company to move away from synthetic dyes and other artificial ingredients (Sam’s Club, Nestle and Heinz are also ditching artificial in the next year or so!), but it is certainly one of the biggest entities to do so.

Even if you don’t shop at Walmart, this change could have lasting effects on the foods available in the US. Due to Walmart’s enormous size and reach, this decision could significantly impact food suppliers and the entire grocery industry.

If a giant retailer like Walmart reduces its demand for synthetic ingredients, then suppliers will be forced to adapt, and other retailers may soon follow.

What do you think of this news? Please share your opinions in the comment section below!

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