WK Kellogg Co. to eliminate artificial colors in cereal by late 2026

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg's parent company has announced that its cereal brands will no longer use artificial colors by the end of 2026.

On August 6, WK Kellogg Co announced that it will remove all artificial colors and the preservative BHT from all of their cereals by the end of 2026. The transition is a year ahead of schedule and is part of their goal of using simple ingredients in the products they make.

According to WK Kellogg Co, it plans to make their line of cereals with all new ingredients using natural sources without sacrificing the taste that consumers expect.

“More and more consumers are looking for foods made with simple, recognizable ingredients and we are proud to meet those expectations, even sooner than planned,” said Doug VanDeVelde, Chief Growth Officer, WK Kellogg Co. “We conducted extensive consumer testing to make sure these recipes deliver the great taste consumers want while maintaining the original rainbow of colors – red, orange, yellow, green, purple and blue – that fans of Froot Loops and other colorful cereals have come to love. It wasn’t easy but we identified natural solutions for every color and we’re confident families will love the updated recipes and simplified ingredients without compromising on quality or taste.”

WK Kellogg Co will start with Kellogg's Froot Loops and Apple Jacks and expect to have the first of the new products on shelves by the end of 2026.

The company said it is substituting synthetic food dyes with plant-based ingredients such as fruit and vegetable concentrates.

What Now?

Consumers will soon begin to see the new cereal recipes hit the shelves but it will be a gradual process rather than all at once. Here is what the change could mean for your family, budget, and pantry:

• Price Expectations (Unconfirmed): The company does not mention whether there will be any price hikes as a result of the new recipes. While WK Kellogg wrote that it made a "significant investment in its manufacturing facilities" to make the switch possible, it has not publicly said whether the price you pay will be affected by the higher cost of natural ingredients.
• Taste and Appearance: WK Kellogg said that they tested the new recipes to ensure that the current taste, aroma, and color profiles remain the same.
• Packaging: The company said the boxes will include the new SPOONS nutritional guide icon.
• Schools: According to the company, cereals served at public schools have already been switched over to the new recipe.

So Why Now?

Commonly used dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1, are color additives that have been used for years to make processed food visually appealing. However, recent changes in state and federal laws are forcing companies to reduce, and in some cases, eliminate the use completely.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously allowed artificial dyes to be used, there has been in a shift in public sentiment, scientific studies, and government research on the health risks posed by these artificial colors.

In 2023, California passed AB 418, which banned the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food containing Red 3.

In 2024, California passed AB 2316, which restricted public schools from serving or selling foods that contained six synthetic dyes.

In 2025, the FDA banned FD&C Red 3 because animals models showed an increase risk of cancer.

In 2025, West Virginia and Virginia also passed similar laws banning synthetic dyes from public schools.

Although, many of these laws and regulations do not go into effect until 2027.

As WK Kellogg Co completes its transition to plant-based ingredients, cereal favorites, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, will feature a simpler ingredients label without sacrificing taste. Keep an eye out for the new boxes featuring the SPOONS nutritional guide set to arrive later this year.

Sources

• WK Kellogg Co Website Press Release - Eliminating Artificial Colors
• WK Kellogg Co Website - Make Eating Well Easy - Details about the SPOONS Nutritional Guide
• WK Kellogg Co Press Release - SPOONS Nutritional Guide
• Center for Science In The Public Interest - Synthetic Food Dyes: Health Risks, History, and Policy
• American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Are Artificial Colors Safe for Children
• FDA - Companies That Pledged to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
• FDA - Color Additives Q&A for Consumers

Missing Information We Are Tracking

• Which plants and fruits will be used to substitute the color dyes.
• Whether the cost of cereal will go up.
• If this is a permanent shift or temporary adjustment.

We Want To Hear From You

Have you noticed any recipe changes on your local grocery store shelves yet, or do you prefer the traditional formulations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

A Note on How This Was Written: We’re all about using the best tools to get you relevant information fast. To put this blog post together, we used AI to help with research and crunch the technical jargon into plain English. But because tech can make errors, a real human editor (me!) personally fact-checked every detail, verified every link, and gave the final "thumbs up" before hitting publish. Think of it as AI-assisted research with human-delivered facts.