If you’ve noticed your favorite snacks looking a little less neon lately, you’re not imagining it. PepsiCo—the parent company of Cheetos, Doritos, Gatorade, Lay’s and more—announced a major shift: New dye-free versions of several popular snacks and beverages are hitting shelves, eliminating synthetic food dyes that have colored American foods for decades.
This is a big move, both for the food industry and for consumers who are becoming more ingredient-aware. Let’s break down what’s changing, why it matters, and what it means for your health.
What Exactly Is Changing?
PepsiCo is releasing “cleaner-label,” dye-free versions of select snacks, including:
- Cheetos (including some Flamin’ Hot varieties)
- Doritos (Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, and others)
- Lay’s and Tostitos in certain product lines
- Some Gatorade products already underwent reformulation previously
These new versions will appear under labels like “Simply NKD”, and they replace artificial colors—like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6—with natural alternatives.
Important:
The classic, brightly colored versions are not going away. The dye-free line is an additional option for those who want fewer additives.
Why Is This Happening Now?
A few major forces pushed this shift:
1. Consumer Demand Is Changing
People want shorter ingredient lists, fewer additives, and more transparency. “Clean-label” is no longer a niche trend — it’s mainstream.
2. Increasing Scrutiny of Synthetic Dyes
While research on dyes is mixed, concerns have grown around:
Hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children Potential sensitivity reactions Long-term safety of petroleum-derived additives
Even though the evidence isn’t black-and-white, big manufacturers don’t want to be on the wrong side of public perception.
3. Regulatory Pressure
Federal regulators have signaled a shift away from certain artificial dyes in the coming years. Food giants are preparing ahead of time.
4. Brand & Market Strategy
PepsiCo knows that offering more “natural” options expands its customer base without alienating loyal fans of the originals.
What Will Be Different?
1. The Color Will Change
Some snacks will look noticeably lighter.
For example, dye-free Flamin’ Hot versions are more of a pale yellow-orange than the iconic red.
2. The Flavor Should Stay (Mostly) the Same
PepsiCo claims the taste remains unchanged.
However, removing dyes can influence perception—many people equate bright color with flavor intensity.
3. Ingredient Labels Will Look Cleaner
Instead of synthetic dyes, expect to see:
Annatto Paprika extract Beet juice Turmeric extract
These are more natural but not necessarily “healthier”—they’re just different.
Does Removing Dyes Make These Snacks “Healthy”?
Short answer: No.
More accurate answer: It’s a small win, but not a transformation.
Artificial dyes aren’t the biggest concern in ultra-processed snacks. The real health issues in chips and flavored snacks typically come from:
High sodium Inflammatory seed oils Additives that affect cravings High calorie density Flavor enhancers that drive over-eating
So while removing dyes is positive, it’s not the same as turning chips into a whole-food snack. Think of it as removing one small layer of concern—not solving the larger nutrition problem.
Why This Still Matters?
Even if the health impact is small, this change is meaningful because:
1. It Reflects a Larger Industry Shift
Companies follow money. When consumers want cleaner foods, corporations listen. This is how systemic change happens.
2. It Helps Parents Who Want to Avoid Certain Additives
Kids are especially sensitive to artificial colors — and many parents actively avoid them. Having mainstream dye-free options helps.
3. It Encourages Label Awareness
This shift motivates consumers to read labels — a habit that influences better long-term food decisions.
4. It Pushes Other Brands to Do the Same
When a giant like PepsiCo moves, competitors pay attention.
A Nutrition Expert’s Take (My Honest Opinion)
From a health-optimization and chronic-disease-prevention standpoint:
✔️ Good step:
Removing synthetic dyes simplifies the ingredient list and responds to consumer concerns.
✔️ But… not a major health change:
The product remains ultra-processed, low in nutrients, and high in salt/fat.
✔️ Real progress happens when consumers shift their daily eating patterns, not just switch to a dye-free version of the same snack.
If you love these snacks, enjoy them in moderation—but don’t mistake “dye-free” for “healthy.”
How to Use This Information for Smarter Food Choices
Here are simple takeaways for your readers, patients, or clients:
1. Read your labels
Check for:
Red 40 Yellow 5 Yellow 6 “Artificial color” or “color added”
Choosing dye-free versions is a small but meaningful improvement.
2. Don’t rely on color to judge flavor
Your snack may look more muted, but taste nearly identical.
3. Remember the bigger picture
You don’t need to fear every processed food, but aim for:
Whole-food–based snacks Protein + fiber combinations Minimally processed options most of the time
4. Treat these products as occasional foods
Dye-free or not, they’re still engineered to make you crave more.
A Medical Take: What This Means Through a Clinician’s Lens
As a Physician Associate and nutrition-focused provider, I tell my patients this:
Artificial dyes are unlikely to be the single cause of health issues, but their removal represents a shift toward more transparent and less additive-heavy food manufacturing. That’s meaningful.
However, the reality is this:
Dye-free does not equal disease-free.
The biggest health risks associated with chips and snack foods come from:
Chronic inflammation triggered by seed oils used at high heat Sodium loads contributing to hypertension Calorie density that encourages passive overeating Flavor enhancers and colors that stimulate dopamine-driven food reward Lack of fiber, nutrients, and satiety-promoting components
From a metabolic and medical perspective, these snacks—whether dyed or dye-free—still fall into the “occasional food” category.
What I tell patients:
If you want the cleaner option, choosing the dye-free version is reasonable. But true disease prevention comes from shifting the baseline of the diet toward whole, minimally processed foods and reserving snacks like these for mindful indulgence—not daily consumption.
Final Thoughts
PepsiCo’s removal of artificial dyes is a sign of the times: consumers are becoming more educated, more aware, and more vocal about what they want in their food.
It won’t magically make chips healthy, but it does move the industry toward cleaner, more transparent ingredients — and that’s a win worth acknowledging.
