- Source: www.wdef.com
Walmart announced Oct. 1 that it will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other food additives, including artificial sweeteners and preservatives, from its private-label brands by 2027. The move will affect about 1,000 products ranging from snacks and baked goods to beverages and salad dressings.
Customers can expect to see reformulated products on shelves within months, Walmart said. The changes will primarily apply to Great Value, the company’s largest private-label food line, but will also extend to Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods.
John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., said the decision reflects customer feedback. “Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients — and we’ve listened,” Furner said in a statement.
Consumer response and food safety
It serves more than 250 million customers weekly worldwide. The retailer framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to increase transparency in its food offerings.
Consumer advocates welcomed the move. “As the leading grocer in the U.S., this move will have a significant impact on the market and the safety of the food that so many Americans purchase for their families,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.
The list of ingredients Walmart plans to eliminate includes potassium nitrate, potassium nitrite, and potassium bisulfite, commonly used in processed meats. The company also pledged to remove phthalates, a chemical used to make plastics flexible that is often found in packaged and fast foods.
Some of the targeted ingredients have already been banned or are no longer widely used in the U.S. food supply. Others remain approved but are under review for potential removal by federal regulators, according to food safety experts.
Industry and government pressure
It said 90 percent of its private-brand products are already free of synthetic dyes. The announcement aligns with a larger industry trend. Food makers including Kraft Heinz and General Mills have recently announced similar steps to eliminate Synthetic Dyes,from their products.
The federal government has also increased scrutiny of artificial food dyes. In April, the Department of Health and Human Services urged food companies to stop using synthetic dyes. The Food and Drug Administration is working with manufacturers to phase out six dyes still in use.
Background on Walmart initiatives
This is not it’s first effort to address health and nutrition concerns. In 2012, the company introduced the “Great For You” icon on certain foods that meet nutritional guidelines. The latest action expands that approach by reformulating a wider range of everyday grocery items.
It did not disclose the full list of additives slated for removal but emphasized its commitment to phasing out ingredients that customers increasingly question. By setting a 2027 deadline, the retailer said it aims to give suppliers time to adjust recipes while ensuring product quality and availability.
With the planned changes, It joins a growing group of retailers and manufacturers responding to consumer demand for simpler ingredients and fewer artificial additives. Industry analysts note that Walmart’s size and reach could accelerate reformulation trends across the U.S. food sector.
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