PepsiCo Announces a ‘MAHA’ Makeover for Doritos and Cheetos Under Health Initiative

PepsiCo announced that its major snack brands, including Doritos and Cheetos, will undergo significant ingredient changes as part of a nationwide effort to eliminate artificial colors and flavors from processed foods, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The move aligns with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which aims to phase out petroleum-based dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of next year.

PepsiCo Announces ‘MAHA’ Makeovers for Doritos and Cheetos

The move follows an April announcement from the U.S. HHS Dept that it would work with industry leaders to eliminate petroleum-based dyes from the food supply by the end of next year.

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In an interview with Yahoo Finance, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company’s goal is to make its snack portfolio cleaner and more nutritious through what it calls “naked” or “NKD” snacks.

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“Fiber will be a big trend,” Laguarta said. “Consumers in the United States have deficiency of fiber, and we’re innovating in fiber.”

According to Fox News, the new formulations of Doritos and Cheetos will eliminate synthetic additives, including the removal of artificial colors and flavors.

This change will impact products such as Doritos Nacho Cheese and Cheetos Crunchy, which currently use dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced in April that it is working with major food companies to eliminate petroleum-based dyes by 2026. The FDA has also endorsed the transition to naturally derived coloring agents.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement earlier this year:

“Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada. We have a new epidemic of childhood diabetes, obesity, depression, and ADHD. Given the growing concerns of doctors and parents about the potential role of petroleum-based food dyes, we should not be taking risks and do everything possible to safeguard the health of our children.”

Health Secretary Kennedy also commented on the reform effort, saying, “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development.”

Board-certified dietitian Kendall Mackintosh told Fox News the decision by PepsiCo represents a positive shift in food manufacturing. She cited studies linking artificial dyes to inflammation, hyperactivity, and oxidative stress.

“Consumer demand is driving this shift — when we stop buying these products, companies are forced to change,” Mackintosh said.

A review of 27 clinical trials found that roughly 64 percent of the studies identified behavioral issues in children connected to the consumption of artificial dyes.

PepsiCo said the changes will extend beyond Doritos and Cheetos to include other brands like Lay’s and Tostitos, which will soon feature ingredient-focused packaging and expanded use of avocado and olive oils.

The company said all U.S. Lay’s products will be free of artificial colors and flavors by the end of this year.

The corporate overhaul marks one of PepsiCo’s largest health-oriented product transitions in recent years, signaling a shift toward cleaner ingredients across its snack portfolio while aligning with federal public health goals.

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