Tyson Foods to Eliminate Synthetic Dyes

The well-known brand behind Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm food products is set to make a significant change. Tyson Foods announced it will stop using petroleum-based synthetic dyes in its products by the end of this month, responding to pressure from US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

During a revenue call on Monday, Donnie King, the company’s CEO, shared the update. He mentioned that as a leader in the protein sector, Tyson Foods ensures that none of its offerings in school nutrition programs contain synthetic oil-based dyes.

King highlighted that most of Tyson’s retail products, like chicken nuggets, are already free from these dyes. He noted that the company is in the process of reorganizing the few remaining items that still contain them. “We anticipate completing this transition by the end of May,” he said.

Interestingly, this move comes ahead of a deadline set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food manufacturers to remove such dyes.

In January, the FDA called for the removal of red dyes from food and dietary supplements. Additionally, PepsiCo’s CEO recently announced that popular snacks would also be free from artificial colors by the end of this year.

Tyson Foods operates several major brands, including Ballpark and the Light brand, alongside its more famous subsidiaries, highlighting its substantial presence in the food industry.

A spokesperson for Tyson declined to provide further comments, leaving many curious about what other changes might be on the horizon for the brand.