SMUCKER’S fans will see a major recipe change roll out throughout the next few years under the food manufacturer’s pledge to eliminate a controversial ingredient from its products.
As the company switches up the recipe for a number of its food items, fans will see the change hit beloved products such as jams and Hostess desserts like Twinkies.
The J.M. Smucker Company is a popular American food manufacturer that sells a number of iconic food products, including Uncrustables[/caption]
Smucker’s will soon roll out a recipe change to some of its products, including jams and Hostess desserts like Twinkies[/caption]
The J.M. Smucker Company is a giant American food manufacturer and marketer, especially well-known for its fruit spreads.
Smucker’s is joining the extensive list of companies that are vowing to remove FD&C artificial dyes from their food products across the next two years, making the announcement on Friday.
The company revealed that the majority of its food offerings, including its beloved Uncrustables sandwiches, already do not contain any synthetic dyes.
However, the recipe changes will impact its sugar-free jams, ice cream toppings, and select products from its Hostess brand.
For example, Twinkies are made using Red 40 and Yellow 5 while Snoballs snack cakes contain Red 40 Lake.
Smucker’s is also working to eliminate artificial dyes from products sold to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
Brands owned by Smucker’s
The J.M. Smucker Company owns a diverse portfolio of well-known brands in the food, coffee, and pet food sectors:
- Folgers
- Café Bustelo
- Jif
- Smucker’s
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Uncrustables
- Meow Mix
- Milk-Bone
- Hostess
- Pup-Peroni
- Hungry Jack
“Our commitment to remove FD&C colors from our sugar-free fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, and sweet baked goods products represents the latest example of our desire to evolve and our ability to continue to innovate to deliver on the expectations of our consumers,” said company CEO Mark Smucker.
The food giant previously eliminated high-fructose corn syrup from its Uncrustables sandwiches and rolled out reduced sugar fruit spreads as well as options made with ingredients from all natural sources.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Smucker’s is not the only major food company that is switching up its recipes.
Nestle and Conagra Brands – the parent company of Duncan Hines – both revealed earlier this week that they would slowly remove FD&C colors from their products.
Last week, Kraft Heinz and General Mills also promised to eliminate all artificial dyes from their foods by the end of 2027.
Additionally, spice manufacturer McCormick revealed during a March earnings call that it has been collaborating with restaurants and food manufacturers to reformulate products to remove certain ingredients such as food color.
Beverage manufacturer PepsiCo is likewise reducing the artificial ingredients in its products, CEO Ramon Laguarta disclosed during a conference call in April.
All of these companies’ efforts align with the federal government’s aim to eradicate synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply.
Products containing banned red dye
The Food and Drug Administration will ban Red Dye 3, or erythrosine, in food products and ingested drugs.
The artificial food coloring is being outlawed nearly 35 years after it was banned from cosmetic products due to its links to cancer in lab rats.
Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 will have until January 15, 2027, to remove it from their food products.
Medication manufacturers can reformulate their products until January 18, 2-28.
The ban applies to all US products, including all internationally made products imported into the US.
Products that contain the dye include:
- Brach’s candy corn
- Some maraschino cherries
- Don Pancho green and blue tortilla chips
- Some cookies with red icing
- Some cough syrups
- Vigo saffron yellow rice
- Yoo-hoo Strawberry Drink
- Betty Crocker’s loaded mashed potatoes
- Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers
- Dubble Bubble Original Twist Bubble Gum
Days before Donald Trump’s reelection in January, regulators banned Red 3 dye from being used in food – a move that came almost 35 years after it was forbidden in the cosmetics industry due to a potential cancer risk.
The Food and Drug Administration announced plans earlier this year for a more thorough review process for food chemicals already on the market.
“Some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent” for too long, said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
He also claimed that the “poisonous compounds” offered zero nutritional benefit and posed “real, measurable dangers” to the health and development of children.
Alongside the FDA, Kennedy revealed in April a slew of new steps to slowly remove all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the US food supply.
He pointed out that achieving the goal would require voluntary support from food manufacturers, but that the “industry has voluntarily agreed” to do so.
The change is forcing Sam’s Club to overhaul all its home brand items by the end of the year.
Plus, see the beloved snacks that will look different under a new law – but it’s all down to where you buy the treats.
