Walmart has recently announced a significant change in its store brand food products, stating that it will eliminate artificial dyes and 30 other ingredients commonly found in ultraprocessed foods by January 2027. This move is being hailed as one of the largest private brand reformulations in retail history by the nation’s largest retailer.
The company is collaborating with its private brand suppliers to adjust formulations and find alternative ingredients for its various labels, including Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods. This decision comes as consumers are increasingly prioritizing health and wellness, leading them to pay closer attention to ingredient lists when making purchasing decisions.
With the Trump administration also putting pressure on companies to reformulate their products, Walmart’s move to remove artificial colors and other undesirable ingredients is in line with industry trends. Many of the nation’s largest food companies have already committed to transitioning to natural dyes, and Walmart is among the first to target additional ingredients associated with ultraprocessed foods.
Some of the ingredients set for removal include preservatives like propylparaben and flour bleaching agents like azodicarbonamide, which is often referred to as the “yoga mat chemical” due to its use in foam plastics. While some of the listed chemicals are no longer used in the industry or are not part of the food manufacturing process, Walmart is committed to meeting consumer demand for simpler, more familiar ingredients.
John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., emphasized the company’s dedication to providing affordable food products that families can feel good about. He stated, “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”
Currently, 90% of Walmart’s private brand products are already free from synthetic dyes, and the reformulated products will begin to appear in stores over the coming months. The company plans to complete the transition by January 2027 at the latest.
In a similar move, Tyson Foods recently announced the discontinuation of high fructose corn syrup and preservatives like BHT and BHA in its products. This shift towards cleaner, simpler ingredients is reflective of a broader trend in the food industry, with more companies and brands moving away from unhealthy additives and embracing more natural alternatives.
