Nestlé USA has completed its 2026 target of eliminating artificial colours defined by Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) from its US food and beverage portfolio, marking an important step in the company’s wider reformulation and transparency strategy.
The company said the milestone was achieved ahead of schedule by removing or reformulating products that earlier used these additives. In several products, artificial colours have been replaced with natural alternatives while maintaining taste, quality and consumer experience.
Nestlé USA CEO Marty Thompson said the company had committed last summer to accelerating the removal of FD&C colours from its portfolio. He added that products where these ingredients were previously used have now been updated without compromising product integrity.
Among the reformulated products are Nesquik’s strawberry-flavoured offerings, which now use colours from natural sources. Nestlé’s foodservice division also transitioned more than 20 Nestlé Vitality beverage products to natural colour sources within five months.
The move comes as the food and beverage industry increasingly shifts towards cleaner labels and natural ingredients. Regulatory support for naturally derived colours such as beetroot red, spirulina extract, butterfly pea flower extract and other plant-based sources has also encouraged wider reformulation efforts.
Nestlé said its clean-label approach extends beyond colours. The company is working to reduce added sugars where suitable, keep high-fructose corn syrup in less than 1% of its US portfolio and avoid aspartame across its US offerings. It is also expanding low- and zero-sugar products such as Coffee mate Zero Sugar iced coffees and creamers.
The company is further focusing on simpler ingredient lists and greater label transparency. Products such as Natural Bliss creamers, Libby’s canned pumpkin and California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas are being highlighted as examples of clearer, more consumer-friendly positioning.
Nestlé is also expanding its SmartLabel programme to give consumers easier access to detailed product information. At the same time, it is strengthening its nutrition-focused portfolio, including Vital Pursuit frozen meals designed for consumers using GLP-1 medications, with portion-controlled and protein-rich options.
While the removal of artificial colours marks a major milestone, Nestlé has positioned it as part of a longer-term effort to build consumer trust through cleaner labels, improved transparency and product innovation.