Walmart is shaking up its shelves. The retail giant announced that by January 2027, it will remove all synthetic dyes and 30 other additives from its private-label food products across the U.S. This shift impacts about 1,000 items under brands like Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bette rgoods.
The nation’s largest retail chain is going after some of the most commonly used synthetic dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5, plus other chemical ingredients that have sparked controversy among health experts. It is a major move toward simpler, more transparent food labels, something more shoppers are now asking for.
Why Walmart is Making This Change?
Customers want to know what is in their food. Walmart listened. A company survey found that 62% of shoppers want better ingredient transparency, and more than half already check food labels regularly. Walmart is betting that cleaner ingredients will build more trust with customers and boost sales, too.
Karsten / Unsplash / Scott Morris, Walmart’s senior VP of private brands, says that about 90% of their private-label food already skips synthetic dyes. The biggest hurdle was finding replacements that don’t mess with taste or price.
Now, better alternatives are finally on the market.
What Ingredients are Being Kicked Out?
Walmart is targeting a long list of ingredients that health advocates have been warning about for years. Some are used in baked goods, some are found in candy and snacks, and others come from packaging materials that can seep into food.
Among the ingredients getting the boot are Red 3, which the FDA recently banned, and other synthetic dyes like Yellow 6 and Blue 2. Additives like potassium bromate, azodicarbonamide, and titanium dioxide are also on the chopping block. These are often used to bleach flour or give food a brighter color.
Other ingredients on the list include phthalates, which come from packaging, and artificial sweeteners like neotame and advantame. Preservatives used in processed meats, such as potassium nitrate and potassium nitrite, are also being phased out.
A Massive Shift in the Industry
This move follows a growing trend in the food world. Big names like Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, and Conagra have made similar changes in recent years. As more consumers look for cleaner labels, even legacy brands are feeling the pressure to ditch synthetic additives.
At the same time, regulators are stepping in. The FDA banned Red 3 earlier this year, and more ingredients could be next. Walmart’s decision puts it ahead of the curve, giving the company a head start before possible new rules go into effect.
Morais / Unsplash / Changes are already on the way. Walmart is working with suppliers to swap out questionable ingredients with more natural ones, while keeping products affordable and tasty.
Some items have already begun the transition. For example, Great Value cheese dips will now get their yellow color from annatto and paprika instead of synthetic dyes. Great Value Fruit Spins cereal will trade in artificial colors for natural ones from beta carotene, spirulina, and fruit juice.
The full overhaul will take a little time. Walmart expects all reformulations to be done by January 2027. That gives the company enough time to work through recipes and get new ingredients lined up at scale.
Still, you will likely start spotting changes on shelves well before then.
