Introduction of Simply NKD Cheetos and Doritos
Some Cheetos and Doritos will look a little different soon. Starting in December, stores will sell Simply NKD versions of the popular snacks that have no artificial flavors or dyes — meaning no bright orange color, PepsiCo announced Thursday. The move comes following a push by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to get rid of synthetic food dyes in the nation’s food supply.
The Food and Drug Administration asked the industry to stop using dyes in April, but stopped short of banning them. For Cheetos and Doritos, the original versions will still be available in addition to the new options. “NKD is an additive option, not a replacement, introduced to meet consumer demand,” CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S. Rachel Ferdinando said in a statement.
Impact on Consumer Choice
The company also promises the flavor will be the same. “We are reinventing our iconic — and most famous — brands to deliver options with the bold flavors fans know and love, now reimagined without any colors or artificial flavors,” Hernán Tantardini, CMO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., said. The NKD collection will launch with four flavors: Doritos Simply NKD Nacho Cheese, Doritos Simply NKD Cool Ranch, Cheetos Simply NKD Puffs and Cheetos Simply NKD Flamin’ Hot.
They will be available in stores starting Dec. 1, PepsiCo said. The original nacho cheese-flavored Doritos contain the artificial colors Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40. The Cool Ranch option has Blue 1, Red 40 and Yellow 5. Other varieties contain other artificial dyes, according to the Doritos website.
Comparison of Original and NKD Products
Original Cheetos and Puffs contain Yellow 6. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos also contain Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and Red 40. Other companies, including Kraft Heinz, have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products. And some states, such as West Virginia, have banned them.
Health Concerns and Industry Response
The push to remove dyes stems from concerns they inflate the consumption of unhealthy foods and raise the risk of possible behavioral changes in some children, such as hyperactivity, sleeplessness and inattention. The food dye industry has denied any safety concerns with artificial dyes. And some doctors say food dyes are not the biggest threat to our health.
“The health risks really pale in comparison with the health risks of the added salt, sugar and fat in processed food,” Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said in July. Edited by Stephen Smith. Sara Moniuszko and Alexander Tin contributed to this report.
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