Nestlé artificial colour removal – overview
- Nestlé will remove artificial food colourings globally by the end of 2026
- The commitment follows recent plans targeting products across the US
- Consumers increasingly favour simpler recipes and recognisable product components
- Years of research tested natural colour alternatives and shelf-life
- The move increases clean-label pressure on food and beverage manufacturers globally
Nestlé is to cut artificial food colourings from all products worldwide by the end of 2026.
The news comes just weeks after the multinational confirmed the successful removal of artificial colours from its US portfolio, and marks an industry first for a manufacturer of its size.
“By the end of the year we will have the global Nestlé portfolio free of artificial colours,” Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s technology chief, told media outlet Reuters. “We did it because consumers don’t appreciate artificial ingredients. They want simpler recipes.”
Though he says the decision was “not a slam-dunk” and required years of investment to achieve.
“We had to do a lot of R&D work because you have to screen all the natural solutions then you have to test those natural solutions during production, and then also test their shelf-life.”
Reformulation challenge
The announcement reflects a wider industry shift away from synthetic dyes and additives, as manufacturers respond to growing regulatory and consumer scrutiny.
Nestlé’s global commitment places it at the forefront of the clean-label movement and increases pressure on rivals to make similar commitments.
And, as demand for simpler ingredients continues to grow, colour reformulation is likely to remain a key area of innovation across the industry.
