
Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.
PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.
It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.
Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip.
Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges. They're feeling pressure from federal regulators and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who are urging companies to eliminate synthetic food dyes by next year.
States have also been taking action. Texas recently passed a law requiring warning labels for foods that contain artificial ingredients. Other states are moving to ban or restrict synthetic dyes.
PepsiCo has sold Simply brand Doritos and Cheetos without artificial dyes since 2002. But those products aren’t designed to taste like the original chips.
The Simply NKD versions are supposed to taste like the originals. But unlike the originals, they don’t contain petroleum-based dyes. They also have shorter ingredient lists.
For example, Simply NKD Doritos and Simply NKD Cheetos don’t contain the flavor-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.
“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colors, not the flavor — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., in a statement.
PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as original varieties.
The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
What do teens and tweens want for the holidays? E-bikes, gift cards and lip tints. - 2
Figure out How to Protect Your Gold Venture from Unpredictability - 3
Bayer reports positive results for blood thinner after 2023 setback - 4
‘Trip of suffering’: Gaza evacuee details 24-hour journey to South Africa - 5
Black Friday Paramount+ deal: Save 50% and stream these buzzy Taylor Sheridan shows
Lego's $650 Pokémon set is already sold out as demand, preorders surge
Step by step instructions to Guarantee Your Lab Precious stone is Morally Obtained
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 25 people, Hamas health authority says
Disability rights activist and author Alice Wong dies at 51
10 Setting up camp Shelters That Offer Both Excellence and Isolation
Teen drug use remains low, but survey finds small rise in heroin and cocaine use
Allow Innovative Progressions To have a Tremendous Effect
NASA launches science balloon in Antarctica | Space photo of the day for Dec. 22, 2025
Does physics say that free will doesn't exist?












