1,000 Walmart Foods Set For Reformulation By 2027

Walmart has announced plans to eliminate synthetic food dyes and 30 other ingredients — including preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes — from its U.S. private-label food products by January 2027.

The reformulation will cover roughly 1,000 items across Walmart’s brands, including Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods. According to the company, 90% of its private-label foods are already free of synthetic dyes, and the new effort targets the remaining portion.

America’s largest retailer said the goal is to offer “simpler, more familiar ingredients,” citing consumer demand for greater transparency. Food manufacturers across the industry have increasingly pledged to cut artificial dyes and ultra-processed additives.

Food & Wine has more on Walmart’s pledge, which comes as regulators push to phase out petroleum-based dyes nationwide:

The change comes after Walmart surveyed its customers, finding that 62% said they want more transparency in what’s in their food, while 54% reported reviewing food ingredients on a regular basis. 

“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients — and we’ve listened,” John Furner, the president and CEO of Walmart U.S., said. “By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”

The move is being applauded by advocacy groups like Consumer Reports.

“Walmart’s decision to eliminate these additives from its private label products represents a very positive step towards getting harmful synthetic dyes, sweeteners, and other chemicals out of our food,” Brian Ronholm, the director of food policy at Consumer Reports, shared in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “As the leading grocer in the U.S., this move will have a significant impact on the market and the safety of the food that so many Americans purchase for their families.”

Ronholm added that the move signaled more than just a corporate policy shift. It was, he said, a “bold declaration and response to consumer sentiment that has become increasingly wary of the long list of chemicals found in so many processed foods. Walmart’s decision shows that food companies don’t have to wait for the FDA’s regulatory process to catch up with the science. Hopefully, others in the food industry will take notice and follow suit.”

Challenges remain for the ingredient overhaul. Natural dyes can complicate formulation, affecting color, flavor, and shelf life. Reformulating at scale also creates cost pressures related to ingredient sourcing, research and development, and supply chain adjustments. Whether Walmart can manage these changes without raising prices remains uncertain.

Still, the company says it is committed to working with suppliers to meet the 2027 target.

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