Listen to the article
Dive Brief:
Turkey Hill Dairy and dozens of other U.S. ice cream makers are pledging to remove artificial colors from their products by 2028 as more food makers look to comply with a push by the FDA to rely more on natural ingredients.
The commitment is spearheaded by the International Dairy Foods Association, which represents the commercial ice cream industry. Companies making more than 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the U.S. are taking part in the pledge.
The ice cream commitment includes products sold in grocery stores and parlors supplied by major manufacturers. It does not apply to ice cream made with non-dairy ingredients or made in-house by small shops.
Dive Insight:
While major food companies have announced commitments to ditch artificial dyes, this announcement represents the first time a segment of the food industry has come together to make the pledge.
“From small independent companies to family-owned businesses going back generations, to large multi-national companies—we have all come together in a true industry-wide effort to make these changes,” Andy Jacobs, chair of the IDFA Ice Cream Segment Board and CEO of ice cream brand Turkey Hill Dairy, said in a statement.
Many commercial ice cream makers have already phased out certified artificial colors, the IDFA noted. For those still making the transition, the association is convening a working group of ingredients suppliers and dairy companies to ensure an adequate supply of alternative ingredients.
The IDFA said it took the step as federal and state policies remain misaligned. While the FDA has declared artificial colors safe for use, states such as West Virginia have moved to ban these ingredients in retail or school foods as part of the “Make America Healthy Again Movement.”
U.S. dairy companies have pledged to remove artificial colors in milk, cheese and yogurt products sold to schools by July 2026.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asked food companies to voluntarily remove artificial dyes by the end of 2026, though that deadline appears unrealistic for most of the industry.
Food giants Kraft Heinz, Hershey and J.M. Smucker have committed to phase out artificial dyes, with most pledging to remove synthetic colors by the end of 2027. Nestle, however, has committed to removing artificial dyes by mid-2026.
