"What You Need to Know About Artificial Food Coloring Phase-Outs"

"As Mars joins the growing group of multinational food companies pledging to phase out artificial food coloring, its use remains widespread. Here’s why it matters."

"Artificial colors are so last year. Or that’s what the recent announcement from Mars, Inc.—the maker of colorful candy brands such as M&Ms, LifeSavers, and Skittles—suggests. With it, Mars joined a growing number of large food companies, including General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Mondelez, and Nestlé, which are all in the process of eliminating artificial food coloring.

The company says it is making the change, expected to take five years, “to meet evolving consumer preferences,” not for any scientific reason.

“Artificial colors pose no known risks to human health or safety, but consumers today are calling on food manufacturers to use more natural ingredients in their products,” said Mars in its announcement. This sentiment echoes the other big food producers that have made the change. In fact, the companies we spoke to echoed much of the same sentiment."

Elizabeth Grossman reports for Civil Eats February 15, 2016.