
Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover.
PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.
It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company.
Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip.
Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges. They're feeling pressure from federal regulators and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who are urging companies to eliminate synthetic food dyes by next year.
States have also been taking action. Texas recently passed a law requiring warning labels for foods that contain artificial ingredients. Other states are moving to ban or restrict synthetic dyes.
PepsiCo has sold Simply brand Doritos and Cheetos without artificial dyes since 2002. But those products aren’t designed to taste like the original chips.
The Simply NKD versions are supposed to taste like the originals. But unlike the originals, they don’t contain petroleum-based dyes. They also have shorter ingredient lists.
For example, Simply NKD Doritos and Simply NKD Cheetos don’t contain the flavor-enhancing additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are found in the original versions.
“We’re turning expectations upside down — removing artificial colors, not the flavor — and proving that unforgettable taste can be colorless,” said Rachel Ferdinando, the CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., in a statement.
PepsiCo said the Simply NKD line will include flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The chips will cost the same as original varieties.
The company said original Doritos and Cheetos will also remain on the market.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
This Luxurious Thermal Spa In Italy Is Perfect For A Relaxing Escape While Visiting Milan - 2
FDA updates risk classification for voluntary shredded cheese recall - 3
Vote In favor of Your Favored Web-based Book Retailor - 4
College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over - 5
Creative Tech Contraptions That Will Work on Your Life
Dave Coulier reveals he has tongue cancer, his 2nd diagnosis in a year, after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Bird flu poses risk of pandemic worse than COVID, France's Institut Pasteur says
Find the Advantages of Careful Eating: Developing a Sound Connection with Food
The Best Internet based Retailers for Style and Frill
US students studying housing, health outcomes and sustainability win 2026 Rhodes scholarships
German finance minister seeks better market access in China talks
From Loner to Force to be reckoned with: Individual Accounts of Change
5 Bike Brands for Ordinary Use
CMA Awards 2025: Full list of nominations, from Entertainer of the Year to Album of the Year











