
Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.
PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.
It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.
Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip.
Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges. They're feeling pressure from federal regulators and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who are urging companies to eliminate synthetic food dyes by next year.
States have also been taking action. Texas recently passed a law requiring warning labels for foods that contain artificial ingredients. Other states are moving to ban or restrict synthetic dyes.
PepsiCo has sold Simply brand Doritos and Cheetos without artificial dyes since 2002. But those products aren’t designed to taste like the original chips.
The Simply NKD versions are supposed to taste like the originals. But unlike the originals, they don’t contain petroleum-based dyes. They also have shorter ingredient lists.
For example, Simply NKD Doritos and Simply NKD Cheetos don’t contain the flavor-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.
“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colors, not the flavor — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., in a statement.
PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as original varieties.
The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Oldest sequenced RNA reveals details about a mammoth’s final moments 40,000 years - 2
Hilary Duff announces new album ‘Luck… or Something,’ her first in over 10 years: ‘Excited is the largest understatement’ - 3
The moon and sun figure big in the new year's lineup of cosmic wonders - 4
What you need to know about flu treatments as cases spike across the US - 5
Latvia seeks emergency UN meeting over Russian missile attack on Lviv
Map shows more than 1,900 measles cases across U.S.
Careful Nurturing: Techniques for Bringing up Tough Children
Mom finds out she has cancer after noticing something was off while breastfeeding
Wedding Guest Outraged That Bride and Groom, Who Are in Their 60s and Have Both Been Married Before, Registered for Gifts
Share your pick for the miniature headphones that you generally suggest!
Manual for Tracking down the Immaculate Magnificence of Focal Asia
The 10 Most Noteworthy Games in History
Giude to Best Web based Learning Stage
Heart disease risk greater for women with a common condition they may not be aware they have













