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Nestlé announced on Wednesday that it will remove all artificial dyes from its U.S. food and beverage products by the middle of 2026.

The decision comes as more states, consumers, and federal agencies push for cleaner ingredients in processed foods.

Nestlé's US CEO, Marty Thompson, said in a statement, "We are always looking for different ways to offer great-tasting, compelling choices for our consumers. As their diverse dietary preferences and nutritional needs evolve, we evolve with them."

Currently, about 90% of Nestlé's US products are already free of synthetic dyes, CBS News said.

One of the remaining items containing artificial coloring is the popular Nesquik Banana Strawberry milk, which includes Red 3—an additive banned from cosmetics due to potential cancer risks.

Nestlé had previously pledged to remove artificial dyes back in 2015, but the effort did not fully take hold.

This time, the company says it's fully committed and plans to complete the phase-out ahead of competitors Kraft Heinz and General Mills, which aim for 2027.

Nestlé Moves Ahead of 2027 FDA Dye Deadline

This move follows increased national attention on synthetic food dyes. According to FoodDive, earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called on food companies to voluntarily remove six artificial dyes by 2027.

While this guidance is not mandatory, officials have said they may push harder if companies fail to act.

In April, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary backed the initiative, encouraging the industry to clean up product formulas.

Critics, however, warn that a fast timeline could cause supply issues, impact shelf life, and raise production costs.

Meanwhile, several states are already passing their own rules. West Virginia banned seven food dyes statewide, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed a law requiring safety warning labels on products with artificial ingredients banned in other countries, like Australia and the EU.

Despite the challenges, Nestlé believes now is the right time to act. "Serving and delighting people is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make," Thompson added.