Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. took to social media this week to applaud some of the food companies that are already voluntarily eliminating harmful ingredients in their food products.
Kennedy made special mention on the X platform of Kraft Heinz, Sam’s Club, and Starbucks – all big food companies that have reportedly agreed to adhere to President Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign to promote a healthy American diet and end chronic disease.
Kennedy observed that just months after HHS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would be gradually revoking authorizations for petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply, Kraft Heinz “has committed to remove all artificial dyes from its foods by the end of 2027.”
Kennedy cited a piece published Tuesday at Axios that reported the decision by Kraft Heinz – one of the largest food and beverage companies in North America – to eliminate artificial colors from its US products.
The company said it plans on “replacing FD&C colors with natural colors” or “reinventing new colors and shades where matching natural replacements are not available,” the report noted, adding that Kraft Heinz North America President Pedro Navio said the “vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we’ve been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio.”
“The company already removed artificial colors from Kraft Mac & Cheese in 2016, while it said its Heinz Tomato Ketchup ‘has never had artificial dyes,’” Axios reported.
Kennedy said the food company’s “voluntary step” would phase out “harmful dyes in brands like Kool-Aid, Jell-O, and Crystal Light.”
The move, the secretary said, “proves that when the government sets clear, science-based standards, the food industry listens and acts.”
“I urge more companies to follow this lead and put the well-being of American families first,” Kennedy added. “Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.”
As Reuters reported earlier in June, Walmart’s Sam’s Club announced it would be eliminating over 40 ingredients, including artificial dyes and the artificial sweetener aspartame, from its Member’s Mark brand by the end of this year.
“Glad to see @SamsClub take action,” Kennedy commented on X. “I urge other companies to follow their lead. Together, we will Make America Healthy Again.”
Kennedy also posted on Wednesday that he met with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, “who shared the company’s plans to further MAHA its menu.”
“I was pleased to learn that Starbucks’ food and beverages already avoid artificial dyes, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other additives,” Kennedy said.
During a press conference in April, Kennedy and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced the establishment of a national standard and timeline for food companies to eliminate the use of petroleum-based dyes in food products.
The HHS secretary said America’s children have been living for the last 50 years in “a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” leading to chronic health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal issues, and allergies.
Makary provided details about the timeline for the revocation of authorization for synthetic dyes in food products, noting that many food manufacturers have been “extremely cooperative,” and have “done exactly what we have asked them to do.”
“In summary, we are simply asking American food companies to replace petroleum-based food dyes with natural ingredients for American children, just as they already do for children in other countries,” the commissioner said. “American children deserve good health.”