
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
Moon rush: These private spacecraft will attempt lunar landings in 2026 - 2
The moon and sun figure big in the new year's lineup of cosmic wonders - 3
Dick Van Dyke shares his secrets to longevity as he turns 100 - 4
Game theory explains why reasonable parents make vaccine choices that fuel outbreaks - 5
Figure out How to Adjust Your Handshake to Various Societies
The most effective method to Shake Hands During a Pandemic: Wellbeing Tips and Behavior
Mountain Trekking on a Tight spending plan: Tracking down the Right Bicycle
How to watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest: Start time, TV channel, performers and more
Italian police hold suspected boss of Naples Mafia's Mazzarella Clan
UPM Adhesive Materials plans new facility near New Delhi, India
Vial marked 'Polonium 210' sparks scare during German Easter egg hunt
Top 15 Style Creators Changing the Business
'Zootopia 2' movie reviews: A heartwarming, hysterical and earnest 'ode to community'
Watch SpaceX launch NASA's Pandora exoplanet-studying satellite on Jan. 11












