Major Food Brands Accelerating Shift Towards “Clean Label” Ingredients

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – A transformation is sweeping through the packaged food industry as major companies, spurred by evolving consumer preferences and a renewed focus from health authorities, are rapidly eliminating artificial ingredients from their product lines. This widespread shift underscores a growing demand for “clean label” foods, particularly from health-conscious consumers, including Gen Z and millennials.

Walmart-owned Sam’s Club announced on June 5 its “Made Without” initiative. By the end of this year, Sam’s Club aims to remove over 40 ingredients, including artificial colors and aspartame, from its private label brand, Member’s Mark. The retailer has already begun rolling out “Made Without” cookies, snacks, and even fresh sushi, demonstrating a tangible commitment to offering products that align with contemporary dietary preferences.

This industry-wide pivot comes just months after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid out plans to remove synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply. This broader government initiative aims to address pressing public health concerns such as chronic diseases and obesity among Americans.

Other industry giants are also actively responding to this call for cleaner ingredients. W.K. Kellogg is proactively reformulating its cereals served in schools to exclude artificial dyes. Furthermore, the company has stated a clear commitment: no new products launched by W.K. Kellogg will contain artificial dyes beginning next year. This strategic move highlights a focus on providing healthier options, especially for younger consumers.

Similarly, Tyson Foods is engaged in “proactively reformulating” food products that currently contain petroleum-based synthetic dyes. According to the company, these dyes were slated to be eliminated from its production process by the end of May, signaling a swift response to the industry’s evolving standards. (With Reuters inputs)