General Mills initially removed artificial colors from some cereals, including Trix, a decade ago. However, just two years after this decision, the artificially dyed version of Trix returned due to consumer demand. In 2015, General Mills expressed that consumers increasingly preferred natural ingredients, but the reintroduction of artificial dyes in 2017 indicated otherwise. Now, with plans to potentially ban artificial food coloring, fans of the brightly colored cereal might face disappointment again. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated that for 50 years, an uncontrolled experiment on children’s health has been conducted using artificial dyes. The FDA plans to remove petroleum-based chemicals from food supplies. While the food industry defends artificial dyes as rigorously studied and safe, there is a push towards a national standard rather than varying state laws. General Mills supports this initiative, noting most of its products are free of artificial coloring. Taste and price remain the primary drivers for cereal purchases despite growing interest in clean labels.
— new from Star Tribune
