General Mills says cereals including Lucky Charms, Trix now made without artificial colors
General Mills announced on Wednesday that it has officially removed artificial colors from all its cereals in the U.S.
This means that brands including Lucky Charms and Trix are now made and available without synthetic color additives, according to the company statement.
The company said in the statement that 90% of its U.S. retail portfolio has transitioned away from artificial colors and that it remains on track to complete the removal of artificial colors from all of its U.S. retail products by the end of 2027, including in fruit snacks and baking products.
"As the leader in cereal, General Mills is focused on giving people what they are looking for from the brands they know and love," Bethany Quam, president of Big G Cereal at General Mills, said in the statement. "This achievement reflects how we are evolving with consumer needs while continuing to offer food that tastes great, delivers quality and provides value."
Removing artificial food dyes and colorings has been a cornerstone of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
At a news conference announcing the plan last year, then-Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said health agencies were looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings and to work with the food industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes used in a variety of food products.
Kennedy said the agencies had reached an "understanding" with major food companies to voluntarily remove artificial food dyes from their products. It's unclear what action Kennedy could take if companies don't comply.
Shortly after Kennedy's announcement, PepsiCo's CEO said on an earnings call that the company had already begun phasing out artificial colors. In-N-Out also announced it was removing artificial food dyes from menu items.
In June 2025, both General Mills and Kraft Heinz announced that they would remove artificial food dyes from its products within the next two years.
Additionally, earlier this month, Mars -- the manufacturer of M&M's, Skittles, Starburst and more -- told ABC News that new versions of the candies made without artificial food dyes had become available to consumers on Amazon.
WK Kellogg also said earlier this month that it will remove artificial colors from all its cereals by the end of next year.
In May 2025, the FDA approved two natural color additives and expanded approval of a third, meaning it can now be used in a wider range of food products.
Some studies have linked certain artificial dyes to behavioral changes in children as well as to cancer in animals.
Some nutritionists and dietitians say that it's best to avoid artificial food dyes, while others say more research needs to be done and the potential negative effects are still unclear.
