10/19/2025
Doritos owner PepsiCo just announced that it is removing petroleum based synthetic dyes (namely Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6) from their nacho cheese flavoring used in their Doritos recipe.
Instead of synthetic dyes, the chips will be colored with a mix of plant-based ingredients including beets, radishes, paprika, annatto and turmeric. The flavor profile is expected to remain the same, though the color may appear less vibrant. Yes, the whole point of using the toxic dyes is the make foods more appealing to the eyes and therefore more appealing to eat.
The reformulated Doritos chips are expected to begin rolling out in stores before the end of 2025.
This change is part of a broader strategy to offer more “natural” products across PepsiCo’s snack and beverage portfolio due to rising consumer demand and no doubt, regulatory pressure as the HHS is focused on phasing out synthetic, petroleum based-food dyes from all food products in the US.
What do you think about this change?
