Nestlé says it will remove artificial food colourings from its entire global portfolio by the end of 2026, making it the first major food company to commit to the change worldwide, CTO, Stefan Palzer, told Reuters this week.
The commitment builds on a program it launched in mid-2025 to eliminate FD&C synthetic colours from its US food and beverage portfolio by mid‑2026. Nestlé confirmed last month that all US recipes containing FD&C colours reformulated or replaced.
Palzer told Reuters the global rollout had taken years of investment, including screening natural alternatives and testing them for production performance and shelf life. He said the decision was driven by consumer demand for “simpler recipes” rather than regulatory pressure alone.
The announcement came as food manufacturers globally face mounting scrutiny over synthetic dyes and additives, driven in part by the rapid uptake of GLP‑1 weight loss drugs and heightened consumer interest in ingredient lists.
The shift mirrors a trend already underway among Australian retailers and manufacturers. In 2023, Harris Farm Markets instigated a multi‑year project with suppliers to strip artificial colours from its private label range, and other manufacturers following suit as consumers read labels more closely.
Nestlé has not detailed a market-by-market breakdown for the global rollout, and it is not yet clear what the commitment means for the timing or scope of reformulation across its Australian portfolio.
